New Kellogg Park Nature Center Dedicated to Environmental Education

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – June 12 – Members of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, Tourism and Beach Operations Departments joined together for a dedication ceremony of the new Kellogg Park Nature Center at 855 E. Nursery Rd., in Santa Rosa Beach.

This event was a tribute to Pat Kellogg's lasting impact and formally marked the beginning of this project development. She generously donated the land to Walton County with the vision of offering opportunities for environmental education, specifically for bird watchers and those who love nature trails.

"So, Jeffrey, Pan, thank y'all," said Brian Kellenberger, director of beach operations and interim county administrator for Walton County. "Thank your parents. It really means a lot to this community, to the Board of County Commissioners, and to me personally. I live on the bay on the north side, and me and my family spent a lot of time on this bay," 

Pan Godchaux, Pat Kellogg’s daughter, shared her appreciation for the park's early impact.

"Every time I come, I meet somebody else that's using it, maybe a couple of kids fishing," Godchaux said. "One time, I met a guy who was an AA sponsor, and he said he loved to bring his new mentees here because it was such a nice place to be quiet and contemplate, which was what my mother loved about it."

The plans include a new 1,500-square-foot assembly style building designed to enhance the visitor experience and environmental appreciation. Key features of the Nature Center will include:

     - A spiral staircase leading to a 130-square-foot observation deck, offering visitors a unique perspective of the forest canopy.

     - Multiple galleries throughout the building providing space for local artists to display their work, alongside educational exhibits on native birds, plants and other local wildlife.

     - A versatile facility capable of hosting large gatherings, complete with restrooms, exhibit areas, a dishwasher, sink and removable room dividers for flexible use.

In conjunction with the new building, Walton County Beach Operations has been clearing additional nature trails that connect Kellogg Bayside Park with the new Nature Center. To further enhance the visitor experience, new picnic pavilions, benches and informative signage are being installed throughout the property, completing this immersive nature experience.

"I just know sometimes something like this gets lost and ends up being something else," Godchaux said. "And so, I'm just very grateful to you and the county for what you've brought it full round because my mother wanted the opportunity for kids that lived here to be able to come and see the Bay. It's very special, and it's very different from the Gulf."

This project was built and will be maintained using the Tourist Development Tax, a 5-percent tax collected on short-term rentals in south Walton County. Funding for the cost of construction of the new facility is $995,834 paid for with TDT dollars. 

For more information and project updates, please visit waltoncountyfltourism.com/projects44, or contact Brian Kellenberger at (850) 267-4578.