South Walton Sports Complex Update

[Smiling JOe]

Everything has a cost. More people will eventually mean more Taco Hells, McDougald's, Burger Queens and Dairy Kings. Go ahead and plan on Dick's (sporting goods), and Best Buy, and Not-so Super Walmart will surely see all of the profit in selling everyone towels, shovels, etc. I personally, don't enjoy three rows of beach umbrellas when I sit on the beach.

I love the economic impact it would have on our area, but I don't like the cost, and I am not talking $$$. I think we could use a public swimming pool or two in our community, as well as a few basketball and tennis courts, (without lights), and maybe abbreviated rec fields here or there. However, I would love for us to use the parks we already have. We have miles and miles of off road trails which could be more heavily utilized for running and biking. We have numerous water sources for many water sport activities. Why not feature what we have instead of trying to be like everyone else. I'd rather see physical fitness stations along 30A and in the trails of the Parks. I'd like to see kayak racing. What about teaching our kids about the rare ecosystem we have? We have no biology groups for kids here, (maybe that will change with the biofilia center in Freeport). Where are the naturists groups for kids? There is so much to explore here, but so many kids are stuck on their PS2. Multi-sport facilities could be good, but I think we already have some great fields, if we just open our eyes to see them. Traditional sports are so not SoWal, in my opinion.

 

[Jdarg]

I understand your thoughts about traditional sports, and yes it would be cool to have the kayak team, but communities with families and schools have traditional sports, and many families participate at both the recreational and competitive level. Every community has strong traditional sports programs- that's not to say we couldn't have other sports, but football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, soccer,golf, track and cross country are the backbone. I would love to see field hockey, lacrosse, crew, sailing.....

The thought of a real public pool makes me drool. That would be a sign that we "really exist" in SoWal!

I am really interested in hearing some more thoughts on the arts center. Bdarg mentioned the other day that maybe a thought for South Walton niche marketing would be calling us "The Cultural Coast" or something similar that highlights our cultural gifts- quality music, theatre, and art.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I like that -- the "Cultural Coast!" Arts center would be awesome.

The pool I understand, or maybe more than one. However, I thought traditional sports are being played by kids at schools - basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball, track, cross country. We have those in South Walton, or most of them, I think. The public schools have these facilities, or access to them, already, without spending a dime extra. If they would open those venues to the public when not being used by students, we could also benefit. I've been yelling this for years.

I really don't believe that sports should be restricted to kids, and would love to have another excuse to exercise. Opening up existing, underused fields, would seem the logical answer. Practice fields at UGA were open to the public for use when teams were not using them, and the citizens took advantage of the opportunity to use the facilities. That, in my opinion, is what community is about. We have limited financial resources, and it is about time we began to use the facilities for which we are paying.

 

[Matt J]

the families i referenced base their stay on total charges not just highest or lowest bed tax rate so i did not mean to imply that. 2 nites on 30a for a weekend soccer tourney just isn't budget friendly. Trick question for you. Who will be the first to raise it to 12%?

So then the, generally, lowest charge of bed tax doesn't play into your scenario.

As to the trick question, my monies on Okaloosa. ;-)

 

[Jdarg]

I like that -- the "Cultural Coast!" Arts center would be awesome.

The pool I understand, or maybe more than one. However, I thought traditional sports are being played by kids at schools - basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball, track, cross country. We have those in South Walton, or most of them, I think. The public schools have these facilities, or access to them, already, without spending a dime extra. If they would open those venues to the public when not being used by students, we could also benefit. I've been yelling this for years.

I really don't believe that sports should be restricted to kids, and would love to have another excuse to exercise. Opening up existing, underused fields, would seem the logical answer. Practice fields at UGA were open to the public for use when teams were not using them, and the citizens took advantage of the opportunity to use the facilities. That, in my opinion, is what community is about. We have limited financial resources, and it is about time we began to use the facilities for which we are paying.

Sports are different now than when we were kids. Many sports are practically year round, and many kids play on school teams and comp or rec teams outside of school. Personally, that lifestyle is not for my family, but we are friends with many families here and around the country whose lives pretty much revolve around the kids' sports and traveling every weekend, etc. We have good friends in KY- all 3 boys played uber-competitive soccer, and played for their school teams. Boys 1 & 2 got full rides to Vassar and UA-Huntsville. The cost was the family split apart every weekend to attend multiple soccer tournaments- they were never in town and never together. But many families choose this route, and many families moving here expect this level of sports.

Say goodbye to real summer vacations- the kids are on the road, or not allowed to leave due to practice schedules. But that is the way things are now. Many family vacations revolve around tournaments.

Oh and BTW- I like "Cultural Coast " too. It is our cultural offerings that differentiate us from the neighboring areas.

 

[wrobert]

I guess the thing to do is google:

community aquatic centers

indoor aquatic centers

So I can try to figure out how these things are paid for. Maybe a combination of user fees and corporate sponsorships. Do it with the Rec plat fee money instead of another park where two roads meet in the north end.

 

[Interested Girl]

Sports are different now than when we were kids. Many sports are practically year round, and many kids play on school teams and comp or rec teams outside of school. Personally, that lifestyle is not for my family, but we are friends with many families here and around the country whose lives pretty much revolve around the kids' sports and traveling every weekend, etc. We have good friends in KY- all 3 boys played uber-competitive soccer, and played for their school teams. Boys 1 & 2 got full rides to Vassar and UA-Huntsville. The cost was the family split apart every weekend to attend multiple soccer tournaments- they were never in town and never together. But many families choose this route, and many families moving here expect this level of sports.

Say goodbye to real summer vacations- the kids are on the road, or not allowed to leave due to practice schedules. But that is the way things are now. Many family vacations revolve around tournaments.

Oh and BTW- I like "Cultural Coast " too. It is our cultural offerings that differentiate us from the neighboring areas.

You might try Google ! Massachusetts Beat You To It !

View attachment 13860

Massachusetts Cultural Coast

 

[Miss Kitty]

You might try Google ! Massachusetts Beat You To It !

View attachment 13860

Massachusetts Cultural Coast

This was such a eye opening and interesting thread to read...until the last post. Wow, so helpful. :roll:

I love bdarg's idea...The Beaches of South Walton, The Cultural Coast!

This group of posters have great vision!

 

[Here4Good]

But many families choose this route, and many families moving here expect this level of sports.

How many families are moving here, period? I thought that the school population was dropping.

And how many families "expect" this level of sports? And why should their expectations be funded by tourists, exactly?

 

[ShallowsNole]

So then the, generally, lowest charge of bed tax doesn't play into your scenario.

As to the trick question, my monies on Okaloosa. ;-)

That truly was a trick question, being as the answer is "none of the above."

And total tax is already at 12% in Bay County.