Okaloosa County BOCC — March 3, 2015 — Letter of request

Lannie L. Corbin City Manager 208 N. Partin Drive Niceville, Florida 32578 Office: (850) 729-4008 Fax: (850) 729-4013 “Home of the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival” Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Mr. John Halsted, County Manager Okaloosa County Courthouse 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd. Suite 100 Ft. Walton Bch, FL 32547 RE: Requested conveyance of property to be included in Turkey Creekwalk Park Dear John: Thank you for meeting with Dr. Bill McCartney and me yesterday to discuss the City of Niceville’s interest in including some vacant Okaloosa County property in the City’s Turkey Creekwalk Park. As you may know, the City through a series of grants from The Florida Communities Trust and from Eglin AFB has recently added 120 acres to the park this past year. This will significantly contribute to the recreational experience our park offers to the citizens of Niceville as well as Okaloosa County. As you will remember, the County assisted in the recreational development of the Park by granting the City an easement under the College Blvd. Bridge to allow us to provide an upland hiking trail to the City’s newly acquired property north of the bridge. Again, the City is seeking the County’s assistance in enhancing our Park facilities. Specifically the current boardwalk is some 300" short of connecting the entire walkway along the creek from John Sims Parkway to College Blvd. To enable the City to extend the walkway along the creek would require building on a .1 (one tenth) acre of County property on the east side of Turkey Creek (map and survey enclosed). As such, the City of Niceville is specifically requesting that Okaloosa County consider making this property available to the City through a gift, easement, or some other means of conveyance to support our park walkway improvements. Moreover, this small parcel is part of an 8+/- acre parcel owned by the County and substantially includes Turkey Creek forested flood plain. The City would also welcome a conveyance of some kind to include this entire parcel in the Turkey Creekwalk Park by the County. John, I will be pleased to discuss this request in further detail or to make a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners. Our goal here is to keep improving and enhancing the recreational facilities we offer to the public at this wonderful park facility. ity Manager City of Niceville, FL Attachment — map of Turkey Creekwalk Park Survey of easement requested property