New pedestrian stop open on 30A

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Walton County government officials opened a new pedestrian rest area Thursday.

The rest area is at the corner of Scenic Route 30A and Eastern Lake Road. on Santa Rosa beach.

The formerly empty lot is the most recent 30A beautification project completed by the Friends of Scenic 30A.

The stop includes a rest bench, bike maintenance equipment and a water fountain with a dog watering station.

The Friends of Scenic 30A received $50,000 from the Board of Commissioners to fund this project.

Walton County staff said it will also help with traffic and transportation issues.

“Up and down 30A and on scenic Gulf Drive, we have issues with what I call haphazard parking. And so, instead of using signage that often doesn’t work, we found a hardscape beautification project to physically prevent people from parking where we don’t want them to park,” said said Brian Kellenberger, director of beach operations.

Friends of Scenic 30A is a volunteer organization responsible for the designation of scenic highways by the Florida Department of Transportation.

FDOT paid for the design and planning to be done by their consultant Kimley-Horn. Dewberry Engineering donated the survey work and the beach operations team donated the labor for construction, along with some additional funds.

“Please thank all the (beach operations) guys who worked so hard on the project – it saved at least $200,000 by doing it themselves.” Any contractor would have charged $250,000 to do the work you saw out there today,” said Friends of Scenic 30A board member Cliff Knauer.

Learn more about their online efforts.