Okaloosa County BOCC — December 15, 2015 — GFBWT nomination Oct2015 VeteransPark OkaloosaCo (002)

GREAT FLORIDA BIRDING & WILDLIFE TRAIL Site Nomination Form 1. SITE COUNTY: Okaloosa Name of site: Veterans Park Site owner/agency: Okaloosa County Contact person or manager (if different): Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners Carolyn Ketchel (Okaloosa County District 2), Nathan Boyles (FY 2015 Commissioner Chairman) Physical Address of site: 1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Okaloosa Island FL 32548 Mailing Address (if different): 1250 Eglin Pkwy, Shalimar FL 32547 Phone number(s): South County Commission 850-651-7105, North County Commission 850-689-5030 Phone number(s) to include in guide booklet: Okaloosa County Visitor Center 850-651-7131 Email: cketchel@co.okaloosa.fl.us nboyles@co.okaloosa.fl.us Web site address: http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us http://www.choctawhatcheeaudubon.org/VeteransPark.html 2. SITE EVALUATION CRITERIA: Check all that apply to this site. Yes Ecological significance. Emphasis will be given to high-quality or significant bird and wildlife habitats. Yes Birding and wildlife-watching characteristics. The probability of seeing birds and wildlife, at least during specified season(s), is high. The main viewing attraction(s) are native, free-roaming bird and wildlife species. Consideration may be given to species valued by the public for their beauty or rarity. Sites devoted primarily to exotic species will not be considered. Yes Site resiliency. The site has the ability to withstand public use. Fragile ecosystems or habitats with sensitive species should not be included. Yes Physical and legal access. The site is reasonably accessible to the public. (Check one) X This site is in public ownership (site is open to public use). This site is in private ownership and the landowner is willing to guarantee in writing public access, including controlled public access through guided, prearranged tours. Yes Economic significance. A community tourism infrastructure, such as a Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Development Council, exists in the adjacent community(ies). Yes Maintenance support. Site has full support of all partners, especially those responsible for maintenance. Yes Educational significance. Site has educational signage or programming pertaining to birds and/or other wildlife. The site will have educational signage within 12-18 months. 3. SITE INFORMATION Size of site (acres or sq. miles): 14 acres Nearest town/city: Fort Walton Beach Is there an entrance fee? No Seasons and hours of operation Dawn to dusk 365 days of the year Is there a visitor center? Not on site, but the county visitor welcome center is ½ mile to the east open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-4pm Specific directions to the site from nearest town or major road: From the Ft Walton Beach airport (VPS), take FL-US85 S (Eglin Pkwy) briefly west then south 9 miles. Eglin Pkwy dead ends into Hwy 98, which is Miracle Strip Pkwy. Turn left and continue across Brooks Bridge for 1 mile. Turn left at the 2nd traffic light (Pier Road) past Brooks Bridge. Park in the Emerald Coast Convention Center Parking lot (in its NE corner). More directions here: https://www.emeraldcoastconventioncenter.com/getting-here/directions Specific directions to good birding and wildlife-watching areas within this site (specific trails, parts of the property, overlooks, etc.) If available, please include a map of the area with the best spots circled: A detailed map is included. The Veterans Park boardwalk begins at the NE corner of the Convention Center parking lot. This 0.6 mile boardwalk proceeds near and through all of the sites of birding interest. Some of the dune hammock woods are traversed by foot paths, which are no more than 400 feet from the boardwalk. The boardwalk is sketched into the map that accompanies this nomin