County Administrator Craig Coffey framed the proposal as both a conservation opportunity and a strategic move.
“It’s a way to expand their dollars… It’s a way for us to come forward and say, hey, we aren’t just asking you to do something in our backyard. We’re coming to the table with help and solutions, and we’re going to be a player. It’s a way to preserve land.”
Coffey emphasized that the County is not the lead agency on the acquisition, will not negotiate contracts or appraisals, and cannot disclose the potential purchase price.
“We are not the lead agencies. We haven’t negotiated a contract. We haven’t negotiated—we aren’t doing appraisals… So if they pay 5 million or 50 million, we don’t know.”
When asked about cost transparency, Carolyn Ketchel pressed:
“So we don’t know the price tag on what Florida Forever will purchase this for?”
Why Now?
County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel questioned the timing of the request.
“Why suddenly are we being asked to manage property in our backyard?”
Coffey responded that partnering now ensures the County has a seat at the table during a period of rapid growth and land pressure.
“We can save some land now by partnering with the state. If we don’t, I’m not sure that we would be at the table.”
He described the proposal as a step forward in the County’s conservation portfolio.
“What I’m asking today is approval of the county role as prospectus… This would be a notch forward on our land management, our land acquisitions and holdings, and would be just a great amenity for our residents and tourists.”
Passive Park Model
The property would connect existing county conservation holdings — roughly 2,000 to 4,000 acres already managed as Shoal River Preserve — with the newly created Shoal River Headwaters State Park, forming a larger protected river corridor.
Plans call for a passive recreation model, not athletic complexes or heavy development.
“This is not the same as building Little League fields all over the place,” Coffey said. “Again, this is a more passive park, and it would be in the form of a long-term lease and a management plan.”
Concepts discussed include trails, overlooks, kayak launches, primitive camping, bathrooms, and limited infrastructure phased in over time.
Camping revenue and other park-related income could help fund amenities such as trails and restroom facilities.
Coffey added that conservation partnerships could also help leverage outside funding.
“This is a way for us to bring some of those dollars back into our county and accomplish some of the goals you guys have.”
Financial Questions Remain
While there is no immediate purchase cost to the County, staff previously indicated they anticipate requesting approximately $250,000 shortly after closing for initial management planning, public access setup, and site protection.
Long-term operational responsibilities could include:
- Staffing and park rangers
- Prescribed burns and timber management
- Feral hog control
- Trail and road maintenance
- Utilities and security
Funding could come from money from Federal or State governments in the form of grants, from tourist development tax revenues, a Park Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU), or General Fund dollars raised from property taxes, and/or donations — though those sources are not guaranteed and would require future board approval.
The County will not negotiate the land purchase itself and will not determine the final acquisition price. Its role would begin only after the State closes on the property.
For now, the 4–0 vote simply advances the County as a willing management partner.
Whether the Shoal River expansion ultimately becomes a low-cost conservation win or a long-term fiscal obligation will depend on the final acquisition price, the structure of the management plan, and how future boards choose to fund it.
With growth continuing to push northward in Okaloosa County, commissioners made clear they see preservation as both an environmental strategy and a policy choice — one that now moves to Tallahassee for funding consideration before the legislative session ends March 13th.
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