Okaloosa County BOCC — October 22, 2015 — I. e. Veterans Park Conceptual Plan — reading text

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: October 22, 2015 TO: Tourist Development Council FROM: Ed Schroeder, Tourist Development Department Director Erika Zambello, Marine Economic & Tourism Development Resource Coord. SUBJECT: Veterans Park Conceptual Plan STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request approval of the Conceptual Plan for Veterans Park at Baywalk and permission to initiate the permitting process. BACKGROUND: Veterans Park at Baywalk hosts a variety of wildlife, large pine trees, wildflowers, native grasses, and other vegetation, providing unique habitat on Okaloosa Island. The park is a birding hotspot, with nearly 200 species found here throughout the year. The Board of County Commissioners has directed staff to develop a design & management plan that will reverse the erosion occurring along Choctawhatchee Bay at Veterans Park and improve the upland area to provide for easier public access. The direction from the Board and local stakeholders was to keep the park as natural as possible and minimize hardscaping while maximizing the use of the park by local citizens and tourists alike. This conceptual plan has been approved by the Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association and other local stakeholders. Letters of support have been provided. The erosion along the shoreline will be addressed by a living shoreline project that will not only reverse the erosion currently occurring but will create new habitat, enhance the aesthetics of the park and avoid the alternative of a costly and high maintenance seawall. The upland section of the park will feature a Veterans memorial, an ADA-compliant elevated walkway, educational signage and other "soft" amenities, while a multi-use dock/breakwater will connect Choctawhatchee Bay with the upland section of the park. The costs associated with permitting this project are included in an existing Board-approved Task Order with Taylor Engineering, Inc. OPTIONS: Approve or Disapprove RECOMMENDATION TO BCC: Approve the Conceptual Plan for Veterans Park at Baywalk and authorize staff to begin the permitting process. Okaloosa County Baywalk Project October 2015  Okaloosa County Baywalk Project • Project Overview – Background – Conceptual Project Design – Project Elements • Project Partners and Stakeholders • Project Costs and Funding Opportunities 2  Project Overview Background • Eroding Shoreline • Noticeable Property Losses • Losses of: – Recreational Area – Shoreline Habitat – Upland Resources and Habitat • Threatened Upland Infrastructure • Minimal Recreational Uses 3 Shoreline Erosion 4 Shoreline Erosion 5 Shoreline Erosion 6 Shoreline Erosion 7 Shoreline Erosion 8 Shoreline Erosion 9 Shoreline Erosion 1994 Shoreline 10  Conceptual Project Design Project Goals • Stabilize the Eroding Shoreline • Protect Upland Property, Infrastructure, and Amenities • Protect Natural Resources • Restore, Create, and Enhance Natural Habitat for Aquatic and Terrestrial Species • Increase the Biodiversity and Sustainability of Choctawhatchee Bay • Create New Recreational and Educational Opportunities for Tourists and Residents 11 Conceptual Project Design 12 Conceptual Project Design Coastal Scrub Upland Boardwalk Coastal Dune Saltwater Marsh Offshore Breakwater Oyster Reef Breakwater / Oyster Habitat Seagrass MHW 13  Conceptual Project Design Project Elements • Public Access Pier • Offshore Breakwaters (Oyster Habitat) • Saltmarsh Restoration • Seagrass Recruitment Areas • Upland Coastal Strand Restoration – Invasive Species Removal – Tree and Native Vegetation Planting • Public Access Improvements – Upland Boardwalks – Kayak / Paddleboard Launch – Boat Ramp Improvements – Designated Swimming Areas • Educational Components / Signage 14  Project Elements Public Access Pier 15  Project Elements Public Access Pier 16  Project Elements Oyster Reef Breakwater 17  Project Elements Saltmarsh and Seagrass Recruitment 18  Project Elements Public Access Enhancements Upland Boardwalk Coastal Strand / Dune Restoration www.americantrails.org 19  Project Elements Public Access Enhancements Handicap Accessible Kayak Launch Paddleboard / Kayak Launch http://environment.blogs.theledger.com/11756/handicapped-kayak- launch-at-lake-kissimmee-sp/ http://www.outdoorgulfcoast.com/fillingim-landing-kayak-and- paddleboard-launch/ 20  Project Elements Educational Components http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/techniques/lsimplementation.html 21  Project Partners and Stakeholders • FDEP & USACE • OILA • Okaloosa County Parks Advisory Committee • Local OK County SeaGrant • Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance • GCMLC and E.C. Wildlife Refuge • Choctawhatchee Audubon Society • Neighboring Property Owners • The Nature Conservancy 22  Project Cost Estimates Primary Components • Public Access Pier $500,000 – $1M+ • Offshore Oyster Reef Breakwaters $500,000 – $1.5M • Saltmarsh Restoration $100,000 – $200,000 • Coastal Strand Restoration $50,000 – $200,000 • Upland Boardwalk $500,000 – $1M+ • Kayak/Paddleboard Launch $50,000 – $100,000 • Educational Components $10,000 – $50,000 Total Project Cost: ~$1.5M – $4.0M+ 23  Funding Opportunities • NRDA • RESTORE Act • Additional BP Criminal Fines (NFWF) • Grant Opportunities (NOAA, TNC, USFWS, FWC, etc.) 24 Questions  OKATOOSAISIAND LEASEHOLDERSASSOCIATION PO BOX 4323 FORTWALTON BEACH,Ft 32549 www.ollAweb.com September t6,201.5 Honorable Nathan Boyles, Chairman OkaloosaCounty Board of County Commissioners l2SO N. Egtin Parkrray Shaliman FL 32579 Subiece Veteran's Park at Baywalk/Bayview Dear Chairman Boyles, OILAwas pleased to participate in the design discussions of the dedicated recreational parkland of Block 14. At the Monday,September 14fr meeting of the Okaloosa lsland Leaseholders Association the members voted to endorse the fune 2015 conceptual drawing of Veteran's Park at Baywalk/Bayview and to reserve our right to review future proposals. """'7',7" ---l _ /) .( I \- -J--' Nwfiwt Kathy Fostbn Vice President OILA Board of Directors cc Commissioners Ketchel, Goodwin, Windes, Harris fason Autrey, Director Public Works foe Petrich, GenesisGroup Matthew Trammel, Taylor Enginering