Walton County Breaks Ground on Driftwood Road Municipal Parking Facility in Miramar Beach

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. - June 17 — Members of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and Beach Operations and Tourism departments gathered to break ground on the Driftwood Road Municipal Parking Facility at 76 Driftwood Rd. in Miramar Beach.

Constructing the Driftwood Parking Facility will allow the County to beautify the area and provide safe pedestrian crossings near the Miramar Regional Beach Access. Brian Kellenberger, director of beach operations and interim county administrator, said the Driftwood parking lot is also a large stormwater facility.

“[This is] the lowest spot in this immediate area,” Kellenberger said. “Not only are we collecting the stormwater off of this site that we’re going to generate with impervious surface, we’re collecting a lot of stormwater offsite. Underneath this whole parking lot ... is a very large exfiltration system.”

Kellenberger said the Beach Operations and Public Works departments have been working together on this project because of the stormwater system. They communicate frequently, collaborating on stormwaters issues that can be solved with public land.

“Moving here in the next year, year-and-a-half, we’re going to solve a lot of problems in this area,” Kellenberger said. “With the parking, stormwater, pedestrian conveyance, beautification — and hopefully make the lives of people that live and have short-term rentals and do business and the visitors that stay in their accommodations here ... We'll make this better.”

The Driftwood Parking Facility will provide auxiliary parking for the Miramar RBA, just a quarter mile south. The 1.25-acre plot was previously used for public parking without any amenities or designated parking spaces. In the new design, 82 parking spaces will be available and will include electric vehicle charging stations, ADA, LSV and bicycle parking. An air-conditioned public transit-stop and restroom facility are additional amenities for the public to enjoy.

Over the years, the BCC has identified land close to large public beach accesses to create additional parking for beachgoers. District Four County Commissioner Donna Johns reiterated the importance of having more accessible parking, as well as safety for those walking to the beach.

“[There] will be an opportunity for sidewalks so people don’t have to walk through the street and try to dodge cars all the time,” Johns said. “This is a big safety factor. It’s going to help us with stormwater. It’s giving people a place to park. We’re close to the beach, and so just enjoy ... and please bear with us while [construction] is taking place.”

The Driftwood Parking Facility is expected to be completed in 11 months and is paid for by the Tourist Development Tax, a 5-percent tax collected on short-term rentals in south Walton County. Residents do not pay the bed tax unless they are taking a “staycation” in a local rental property or accommodation.

For more information and project updates, please visit waltoncountyfltourism.com/projects, or contact Beach Operations at (850) 267-4578. For a list of beach and bay access locations, visit visitsouthwalton.com/beach-bay-access-locations.

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