§ 7.4. Resource-Based Parks and Lands

Santa Rosa County has an abundance of natural resources, which can be used as open space and passive recreation. The County is comprised of State Park areas, open space (wetlands), gulf beach, river areas (creeks, rivers, bays and streams), special purpose parks and/or parks with special features. The Department of Environmental Protection has developed a State Park system. In addition, the NWFWMD acquires land for water resource purposes and has also developed a regional park (Garcon Point). These parks are defined as regional park areas, which preserve the natural setting of the area. State parks also permit a program of recreational activities both active and passive. However, most of the State owned lands in Santa Rosa County provide only passive recreational opportunities.

Wildlife Management Areas provide open space recreational activities including hunting, fishing and nature study, while also preserving the natural setting of the environment. Wildlife Management Areas are operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Sound beach on Navarre Beach that plays a prominent role in the tourist industry, vital to Santa Rosa County while providing residents with an unsurpassed recreation and open space resource. The beach primarily provides resource-based passive recreation. Besides the beach, Santa Rosa County offers other water access opportunities, including rivers, bays, basins and bayous.

Blackwater River State Park is located in Harold in the eastern part of the County. The park comprises 590 acres. The primary activities are river related and include canoeing, boating, picnicking, nature study, camping, fishing, and swimming.

Blackwater Heritage Trail State Park is comprised of 96 acres and is located in the central part of the County. The park contains an 8.5 mile paved trail running from the City of Milton to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Park activities include bicycling, birding, horse trails, nature trails, picnicking, running, walking, roller-skating, roller-blading and a visitor center.

Navarre Beach Marine Park is located at the eastern end of Navarre Beach. This park comprises 108.9 acres. The Navarre Beach Marine Park and adjoining public beach area offer eight public beach access points with ample parking, restrooms, outdoor showers and 15 pavilions available for public rental. Navarre Beach Marine Park is also home to near shore reef systems on both the Santa Rosa Sound and Gulf of Mexico, the Navarre Beach Marine Science Center and the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.

Blackwater River State Forest spans the northeastern part of Santa Rosa County and the northwestern part of Okaloosa County. The total area of the forest is 210,463 acres with approximately 147,122.6 acres located within Santa Rosa County. Forest activities include fishing, boating, camping, hiking, biking and horse trails. These activities are offered at the various recreation areas in the forest such as Coldwater Recreation Area, Bear Lake Recreation Area and Krul Recreation Area. This also includes the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area, which is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hunting is allowed by permit within the management area.

Gulf Island National Seashore is located at the western end of Santa Rosa Island and along U.S. Highway 98 in the City of Gulf Breeze. This park comprises approximately 5,823 acres in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties with approximately 1,378 acres located in Santa Rosa County. Activities include nature study, group camping, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, fishing, picnicking, swimming and hiking.

The Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve comprises 16,435 acres in the eastern part of the County. The preserve includes a large portion of the Yellow River just before it dumps into Blackwater Bay. Activities include fishing, boating, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and bird watching.

The Yellow River Marsh State Buffer Preserve comprises 428.1 acres and is located next to the Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve and south of the Yellow River Water Management Area. Activities include hiking, kayaking and bird watching.

The Garcon Point Water Management Area is located in the south central part of the County and is comprised of 3,251 acres located along the Garcon Point Peninsula. Seventy-eight (78) acres are less-than-fee. Activities include hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.

The Lower Escambia River Water Management Area is located along the western boundary of the County and is comprised of 34,473 acres covering Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. Approximately 21,680 acres are located within Santa Rosa County. Activities include hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.

The Yellow River Water Management Area is located in the eastern part of the County and is comprised of 17,446 acres covering Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. Approximately 5,519 acres are located within Santa Rosa County. Activities include hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.

In addition to the Water Management Areas described above, the Northwest Florida Water Management District also owns or manages 253 acres along the Blackwater River and 1,177 acres along Escribano Point.

The Gillis Road Tract is a 20 acre parcel of undesignated state land. It is owned by the State of Florida (Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund) and is located near Interstate 10 in the east central part of the County.

Eglin Air Force Base spans three counties, Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa. The base has approximately 66,506.4 acres within Santa Rosa County located in the southeastern section of the County. These lands offer both active and passive activities and are part of the Eglin Wildlife Management Area.

These activities include camping, fishing, hunting, hiking and bird watching. Permits are necessary for these activities and may be necessary for entrance upon the federal reservation.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field has three Outlying Landing Fields (Harold, Holley and Santa Rosa) and the Blackwater River Recreation Area. These areas comprise approximately 2,020 acres. Activities at the Blackwater River Recreation Area include fishing, swimming, hiking and bird watching.

Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area encompass 4,018-acres within the Grassy Point Area in the southwestern tip of the Yellow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The northern parcel is an expanse of black needlerush marsh surrounding Catfish Creek and tidal creeks that grade into pine forest at higher elevations. The southern parcels consist of basin swamp, maritime hammock and scrubby pine forest. The parcels protect some of the last undeveloped waterfront tracts in the county. They are part of a network of publicly owned conservation lands that provide habitat for rare plants and animals such as the white-topped pitcher plant, Gulf sturgeon and Florida black bear and help safeguard the water quality in Blackwater Bay, East Bay and the Yellow River.