Upgrades make boating easier
FORT WALTON BEACH - Finding a space in a crowded parking lot is always a hassle. That headache is multiplied when you're towing a large boat trailer.
Fort Walton Beach's public works department is hoping the nearly completed expansion of the parking lot at Liza Jackson Park will help ease some of those issues. The city has added 36 new boat trailer spaces, 23 regular parking spots and two handicapped spaces since late last year.
"Liza Jackson, especially on the major boating weekends, it's hard to find a space in there," said Jeff Peters, the city's parks and recreation director. "We went from having 22 boat parking spots. Now we have close to 60, so we've increased that quite a bit.
"It's a major benefit to the citizens with that additional parking lot," Peters added.
Work on the new parking spaces was completed last week in time for the Labor Day weekend.
The new parking spots are part of a three-year renovation project at Liza Jackson funded by a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant and matching funds from the city.
The $112,500 state grant has funded 75 percent of the renovations, which also included the new playground equipment installed last year. The local match has come from a combination of cash and labor.
"The parking lot is complete on the east side. The lighting is complete," Peters said. "The only thing left before April 2009 to finish the grant is irrigation and some sod and fill dirt and some drainage work on the west side close to the water and then we'll be finished. I'd say we're probably 85 percent done with the project."
Peters said there are plans for more improvements as grant money and funds become available. Future projects include adding a boat wash station, building a drive-through to connect the east and west portions of the parking area and renovating a ditch to improve stormwater runoff.