What is the one thing you would like to see...

[florida girl]

A Whole Foods would be a dream come true! I cannot tell you how many times I've written asking/begging for them to put one up here, at least in Destin.

The fact that the only public playground in SoWal is owned by Sandestin bugs the life out of me. While I like the N'ville childrens park, I've found it very dangerous for the 3 and under crowd. The horseshoe footprint of the park makes it impossible to see around to the other side if you little one runs over to another structure. And many of the structures are open ended and very high off the ground. The Morgan Sports complex playground is much more toddler friendly IMO. But... I shouldn't have to drive to Okaloosa county to take my kids to the playground, nor should I have to go into Sandestin (besides, that playground is a nightmare with a 2 y/o).

Working parents childcare is definitely an issue as well. I know our church poured a lot of effort into possibly starting a daycare here, but I think it's been put on the back burner because of some seriously expensive upgrades that would have had to be done to the building.
There is also no Mother's Day Out program that I know of here. They have a few up in Niceville/Fort Walton, but by the time I drove out there to drop them off then drove home, I would have to turn around and come right back.

I have taken my kids to the Freeport playground next to City Hall, it's fun for them.

 

[florida girl]

Child care is certainly a need. There are young couples leaving the area because of this lack; and many others not locating here on a permanent basis for the same reason.

Apparently, the biggest drawback is the cost of the land/rent for a building, etc. Much the same problem as the lack of housing for those who would like to work here.....

There are some really good Employee Child Care Centers throughout the state and country; lots of research on this issue. Perhaps someone could look into those methods and modify for what we need here.

Of course, if there had been some effective growth management planning done by this county government things might look a lot different!

I think the problem of high property costs was planned along time ago, by St. Joe, and whoever. The more land the state owns, the less land for sale to the public, the higher the value of that remainder land. I still don't understand why my tax dollars go to providing the state the ability to be in the real estate business. If they sold some of that, we probably wouldn't need to pay taxes, and would have every amemity!

 

[florida girl]

Come on, are you saying that Kelly's is a decent grocery store? :roll:

When my mother was on "restriction" due to chemo and wasn't allowed to go anywhere she might pick up an infection, I forbade her to even enter Kelly's.

I guess she might pick up some low income germs! I remember the Dixie Dandy in Freeport, before Kelly's went in.

 

[florida girl]

Thanks for the info on the PCB park, drunkenartist. This lack of park issue came up at a previous BCC meeting. Celeste Cobena of the Beach to Bay, stated that she didn't want to see the big parks like Frank Brown Park, in our area. She pointed out the excessive traffic and numbers of people associated with having such a park. They would rather see this area kept more natural, and for people to seek out different sources of activity through our existing resources such as the miles of hiking and biking trails, beach, beautiful lakes, Bay and rivers. I think she makes some good points. She also pointed out the existing facilities at the high school which go unused for most of the time, which could be used for the public -- after all, our tax money pays for those facilities. Again, this is another valid point. I am a proponet of having some place of activity where we can meet as a community, such as a park, or even the schools. Personally, I think in the long term, we could save money on health care if we were fit. Making fitness fun and community oriented is one way of doing so. If a YMCA or Boys and Girls Club type of facility was integrated with the area public schools, not only would the kids have a place to hang out after school in a good environment, but they would also having more activities available for school sports. Also in my idea, the public would have access to these facilities, except for the courts, fields, or pool had practice or games. To me it is a no-brainer. Why have multiple facilities when we could spend less money and have more facilities?

I think it's probably safer on the SoWal chat community!

 

[florida girl]

I agree with you SJ, except that the public school grounds are very poorly maintained. Behind Butler, where the new pavillion is, it is overgrown with weeds, etc. Also, there are no restroom facilities or drinking fountains that are accessible to the general public. F.Y.I., there are plans to build a horrid steel warehouse behind Bay which will serve as the "gym." Parents are very against this and would like a real gym in a permanant building. Only a concrete floor is included (parents have to raise money for a softer floor as well as HVAC). I think this facility will be placed in the the field where you play kickball so say goodbye to that ball field. Also, there will be new playground equipment at Bay, paid for by fundraisers and parents--no county or school funds were provided. My point is that I think most people are willing to use the school facilities for our "parks," but the school district has not been overly accomodating to this idea. We've had a difficult enough time getting them to "allow" us to have the basics and then we have to also pay for them ourselves.

Celeste Cobena has every right to express her opinions, but I do not share her views. We don't need a recreation facility on the scale of Frank Brown Park, unless we want to attract national tournaments like PCB does, but it would be wonderful to have our own community park and playground.

build a horrid steel warehouse

? It would seem to me that whatever monies are available to fund a project would dictate what could be built. If you would like to donate, I'm sure they would appreciate it!

 

[florida girl]

Maybe that is because the tax revenue follows the County Commissioners, only one of which lives in SoWal.

It only takes half that time to get to Freeport.

 

[Here4Good]

I guess she might pick up some low income germs! I remember the Dixie Dandy in Freeport, before Kelly's went in.

Low income germs? What does that mean?

No, real actual germs. Last time I was in there, the floors were so filthy that there was actually an accumulation of dirt under the produce tables. The "deli" food is all a strange color and has a strange smell, and everything on the shelves is actually dusty. The entire place smells like the refrigeration units might be about 20 degrees off, and the meat looks like it was brought from another store after it expired there.

A store doesn't have to be fancy to be CLEAN.

 

[bennedy]

Thare have been some grayt ideas about what we'd like to see in Sowal..however I am afraid that if we saw ALL these things like oil change shops and water parks etc., then we would be turning ourselves into a little Destin and I don't think we want that !!!!

 

[sunspotbaby]

Farmers Market....Toni has fresh fruits & veggies at her place on 30A. Perennials & Natives by Toni across from Butler.

 

[mleigh]

I would like to see a bar with topless ladies waiting tables.

CRACK ME UP!!!!!