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

vulnerable species? The Osprey nest, Great Blue Herons and Great Horned Owls are vulnerable to vigorous human activity like running, music, water recreation and dog walking. The tall pines near the heron pond have supported the heron nests at least as early as 1992, and numerous younger pines on the site may serve to take their place. Choctawhatchee Audubon has requested the current boardwalk be redirected further away from the heron rookery and plans are being proposed to raise the current boardwalk for turtles to pass underneath. 4. TOUR INFORMATION: Does your site offer: Yes guided tours or interpretive programs about birds/birding/wildlife/wildlife viewing? Yes customized guided tours about birds/birding/wildlife/wildlife viewing? How far in advance should reservations be made for tours?: Choctawhatchee Audubon posts birdwalk dates on its website and local newspaper -The Bay Beacon. Reservations are not needed. The date for spring birdwalks 2016 at the park are not set yet. If you are going to be in town there are audubon members, local birders and photographers that are willing to meet you at the site and show you the most popular spots for seeing birds with very little notice needed. Other tour information about the site you wish to include: The Wide Angle Photo Club of Navarre has frequent photo shoots at the park. Anyone can attend. More information at https://www.facebook.com/waldorffphotography 5. INFRASTRUCTURE: Does the site have any of the following? Handicapped Not Handicapped Facility (check, if present) Accessible Accessible Description of structure (ramp, pavement, surface type, etc.): Yes Restrooms Yes  Two sets at adjacent Ross Marler park No Public telephone   ________________________________________ Yes Hiking trails  NO 0.8 mile mostly level- no climbing needed No Biking trails   # of miles ________________________________ No Horse trails   # of miles ________________________________ No Automobile trails   # of miles ________________________________ No Paddling trails   Can paddleboard and kayak in the adjacent bay Yes Boardwalks  No 0.6 mile now there will be more boardwalk added and ADA compliant in 12-18 months. No Campgrounds   Adjacent RV park not owned by Veterans Park Yes Picnic areas   Picnic tables and benches No Observation towers   ________________________________________ Yes Observation decks  No walking bridge over heron pond the main pond No Observation blinds   ________________________________________ No Interpretive signs   educational signs within 12-18 months No Interpretive brochures  In the process of making a park specific bird brochure/ checklist Yes Boat ramp/canoe launch   Boat ramp at adjacent Ross Marler Park, kayak launch in 12-18 months No Concessions/rentals   ________________________________________ Yes Other recreation opportunities: White sand beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore and John C Beasley Park, Gulfarium Marine Park, Wild Willy’s arcade and mini-golf, Okaloosa Island fishing pier, restaurants, clubs, souvenir shopping within walking distance. Details at http://www.emeraldcoastfl.com Does the site have parking available? Yes Number of car spaces: 512 including many at the entrance in the Emerald Coast Convention Center parking lot. There is no parking fee. Number of handicapped parking spaces provided: 4 with more are planned in 12-18 months. Please list the names of trails or areas at this location that are accessible to mobility-impaired visitors, and describe the type of trail or path surface present. Are wheelchairs or motorized carts available for use? The current boardwalk leads from the parking lot of the Emerald Coast Convention Center and will have accessibility improvements in 12-18 months. There is also going to be an entrance from adjacent Ross Marler park that is ADA compliant and will provide mobility-impared access to the restrooms. 6. CONSERVATION EDUCATION: Do you conduct conservation/environmental education programs at this site? If so, please describe topics presented and frequency. Choctawhatchee Audubon maintains a webpage with a link to their Veterans Park webpage with a map and pictures of birds from several contributors. They also have spring bird walks at the park. 7. EXOTICS: Please list any issues regarding exotic/non-native plants or animals for this site: A complete list is included from University of Florida extention CED horticulturist 8. OTHER INFORMATION: Please list any special nature-based events/festivals including name, theme, date/time of year: 7-Dippity has a Department of Defense contract and is providing nature-based science education to Okaloosa County public schools. Veterans Park is one of the sites that will be part of a 7-Dippity Bio-Blitz to introduce students to identifying plants, animals, and birds in the spring of 2016. Names and contact information of others who regularly visit and are especially knowledgeable about this site Erika Zambello 850-651-7131 (Okaloosa County Marine Tourism Coordinator) Wendy Greene 786-556-5560 (bird lover, eBird contributor) Malcolm Mark Swan 210-343-9082 (experienced birder, eBird contributor, GIS-analyist) Bruce Purdy 305-926-6030 (experienced birder, eBird regional reviewer) Walt Spence 850-582-7064 (nature photographer, President of Choctawhatchee Audubon) Fred Doyle 850-862-1717 (Instructor Casual Birding class-NWF Center for Lifelong Learning) Larry Williams 850-689-5850 (CED/ horticulture) NOMINATION SUBMITTED BY: Your name: Wendy Greene Phone number: 786-556-5560 Address: 184 Chicago Avenue Valparaiso FL 32580 This number is my cell number Email: cinderella-rn@hotmail.com What is your role/position with respect to this site? I feel that Veterans Park is an amazing place for birds and bird lovers alike with chances to see migratory birds up close and to enjoy observing Great Blue Herons alongside other birds raise their young. Visitors love the park and it has intrigued all of us to learn more about these beautiful birds. Thank-you for reviewing this nomination form and considering Veterans Park to be added to The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Please return this form, with any maps, brochures, photos, bird and wildlife checklists and interpretive literature about the site to: Whitney Grey, Birding and Wildlife Trail Coordinator FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 S. Meridian St, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 phone (850) 488-9478 fax (850) 488-3940 Whitney.Gray@MyFWC.com www.floridabirdingtrail.com HOW TO NOMINATE A BIRDING & WILDLIFE TRAIL SITE WHAT IS THE GREAT FLORIDA BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TRAIL? The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (GFBWT) is a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The GFBWT identifies birdwatching and wildlife viewing sites throughout Florida, making it easier to find places to enjoy this great hobby, and bringing needed economic motivation to conservation efforts around the state. Sites are marked by highway signage bearing the program’s Swallow- tailed Kite logo. Four guidebooks are available, one for each Trail section, with maps and descriptions for each site. The GFBWT website www.floridabirdingtrail.com contains a trip-planning tool and additional information. The East Florida section of the GFBWT includes 18 counties and opened mid-November 2000. The West Florida section includes 21 counties and opened mid-November 2002. The Panhandle Florida section includes 16 counties and opened May 2004. The South Florida section includes 12 counties and opened January 2006. New sites were added to the East section in 2008. HOW DOES A SITE GET ON THE TRAIL? Anyone can nominate a site– birders, wildlife watchers, citizen conservationists, tourism executives or land managers. Nomination forms are sent to the Birding and Wildlife Trail Coordinator. Each site is evaluated based on a set of criteria. Accepted sites must possess site resiliency, physical and legal access and maintenance support. The site’s ecological significance, birdwatching and wildlife viewing characteristics and local economic significance are also assessed. Educational significance may be used to bolster a site's ranking. A diversity of sites are appropriate for the Trail. Sites can be on public or private land; can be excellent year-round or just in one season; or their access can even be restricted to appointments only. Before you exclude a site because it’s non-traditional, consult the Birding and Wildlife Trail Coordinator– you may be sitting on a fabulous birding or wildlife watching opportunity and a great benefit to your local economy. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A SITE IS NOMINATED? After a site nomination is submitted. First, the nomination form is checked for completion. If it was not submitted by the property owner/manager, the Trail Coordinator contacts the land manager to congratulate them, and then forwards it for their review, and hopefully, their concurrence. Site visits begin. A Birding and Wildlife Trail staff member visits each nominated site. Meeting with site managers and nominators is helpful, but not always possible; accordingly, the completeness of your application is very important. Selection of sites. A steering committee meets to review the nominated sites and to make the final selection. The committee is comprised of representatives from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Audubon of Florida, and the tourism industry. WHEN WILL NOMINATIONS FOR EACH SECTION BE ACCEPTED AGAIN? The nomination process for adding new GFBWT sites is reopened periodically as funding allows. Beginning in December 2011, statewide nominations for 32 rural and RACEC counties will be accepted. Tentative plans call for opening full statewide nominations in 2013, depending on funding.