A $16.96 million investment brings more beach within reach in Destin, ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Wednesday, July 15
Destin, Florida – Along a coastline where every stretch of open sand matters, a new public gateway to the Gulf is ready to welcome its first visitors.
Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park will add 340 feet of public beach access in Destin, backed by a $16.96 million investment and a partnership built around one goal: making more of the city’s shoreline available to residents and visitors.
Okaloosa County and the City of Destin will officially open the newly completed park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The public event begins at 7:30 a.m. at 3310 Scenic Highway 98.
The beachfront property combines direct Gulf access with facilities designed to make a beach trip easier for families and other visitors. The park includes 49 standard parking spaces, three ADA-accessible spaces and 29 spaces for low-speed vehicles. Bathrooms and four pavilions have also been added, along with open views of the Gulf.
“We are incredibly proud to complete this project with our partners and offer this incredible asset to the public,” Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin said.
Read also: Kenwood couple turns longtime Fort Walton Beach yard into July’s neighborhood standout
Goodwin described expanded beach access as a shared priority for both the county and Destin. He said the new park represents another major step toward providing families who live in Okaloosa County, as well as those visiting the area, with a high-quality beach experience.
The City of Destin and the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners divided the project’s $16.96 million cost, using tourism revenue to acquire and develop the site. Trust for Public Land served as the lead agency in negotiations to purchase the properties needed for the project.
City Manager Larry Jones said the completed park reflects what local officials hoped to accomplish when the city and county committed to creating more public access to the shoreline.
“Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park gives Destin residents and visitors a welcoming place to enjoy our beautiful Gulf shoreline for generations to come,” Jones said. He also credited Okaloosa County and Trust for Public Land with helping transform the plan into a finished public space.
Doug Hattaway, land conservation director for Trust for Public Land, said the ribbon-cutting marks the result of years of cooperation and community commitment. He said the park reconnects residents and visitors with the Gulf while protecting access to the coastal setting that defines Destin.
Once the ribbon is cut, the project will move from a years-long partnership into daily public use, 340 feet of shoreline, dozens of free parking spaces and another open door to the Gulf.
