New Destin beach access opening

DESTIN, FL -- Five years after Destin bought 60 feet of beachfront along Scenic Highway 98, the property is now ready for prime time.

The city's Shore at Crystal Beach public beach access officially open. The city began work last year to build a pavilion, beach walkover, restrooms, showers and car and bicycle parking on the land next to its Hutchinson Street beach access.

When the land became available in 2004, the council voted to spend $1.4 million from a 2002 bond issue to buy it. The bond money had been reserved for a community swimming pool but the city had decided to support the YMCA's plans for a Destin pool instead.

Grants Manager Lindey Chabot said there was a good chance that state grants would reimburse as much as 75 percent of the price. A majority of the council said that with public access to the beach steadily dwindling, it was worth buying, even if the grant money wasn't guaranteed.

Later that year, Florida agreed to pay $844,000 of the purchase cost, or 60 percent.

In 2007, Destin received a $90,000 grant to cover the cost of upgrading the park facilities. The city put $100,000 in park impact fees into the kitty.

Providing more waterfront access is one of the priorities in the city's long-range plans. In 2006, the council spent $4.6 million to acquire land on the Destin harbor waterfront for Royal Melvin Heritage Park, then landed a $2.3 million grant to pay for it after two unsuccessful grant applications.