Eglin Air Force Base is actively installing new fencing along the north side of Highway 98 across Okaloosa Island, stretching from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Destin to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
- The Civil Engineer Group began installing approximately 17,000 linear feet of fencing on March 17, with completion scheduled for June 30.
According to an Eglin spokesperson, the fencing serves multiple purposes, including addressing safety concerns related to illegal parking on the highway’s right-of-way and pedestrians crossing the highway from south side parking areas. Eglin says the project also aims to protect habitats and species.
- “Fencing the entire length of that area will continue to protect Florida’s imperiled coastal habitats that support species, including the black skimmer and the least tern shore birds,” the spokesperson added.
The new fencing near the seawall specifically targets illegal driving to the shoreline, which has “significantly accelerated erosion and threatens the integrity of the Highway 98 travel corridor.”
“The intent is to prohibit public access to Eglin property on the north side of Highway 98,” the spokesperson said. “Along with the new post and cable system, warning signs will also be installed.”
There will be no public access points within the work area on the north side of Highway 98, though government-only access points and gates will remain intact.
Those seeking access to Choctawhatchee Bay can still visit through managed recreation areas including the National Park Service Gulf Islands National Seashore and Marler Park.
Eglin also maintains four other public beach access points on the island: Eglin Beach Club (for DoD card holders), the Matterhorn, Princess Beach, and Airman’s Beach. Each of these areas is available to beachgoers with a free permit from the Eglin website.
30 Responses
Thank you for this article. For once, thought is being given to the Terns. Seems like all I hear is ‘boost tourism’. Our native flora and fauna deserve respect. Again, many thanks.
All I ask is that if Eglin is going to restrict access (after all these years) and are advertising that the property is Eglin AFB property that they take measures to maintain it and keep it clean. Because right now, as I drive by and I see the signs proclaiming Eglin AFB property, I’m disappointed to see the unkept and trashing state of the property, it should be embarrassing to the Wing CC.
Tourists and locals throwing trash ️
And who do you think trashed it.
While I agree that our Island should have better upkeep, I would task the Tourist Development Council, with this. Eglin doesn’t advertise for tourists that I know of. Eglin does not have to allow people access to the beach. Thank goodness they do.
Now that Ms. Ketchel has her pathway, along with a cement wall where there used to be dunes, I am grateful for ANY dunes left standing.
If it matters, I arrived here in 1955, and have watched the incremental destruction of the natural beauty. Still, this is home. I cherish my memories.
The cement wall is ridiculous, just like the wall that use to line the bay side, it will dissappear too, traffic didn’t destroy the bay side hurricanes did, to be continued..
Tara m!!
The only way to keep it trash free is to close 98! It’s tourists and locals throwing the trash out of the window
The trashing isn’t from the Eglin AFB property, it is from the vehicle traffic on 98. I have volunteered for clean up along this roadway and can say that all the fast food trash, commercial garbage, vehicle parts, and other trash wasn’t put there by the AF.
Might have tried a few no parking no access signs first. What an eyesore a fence will be.
Like people actually obey signs, especially when they think they are entitled to access.
There have been no parking signs for years. No one follows them.
Those signs that you recommend have been there for years, just people annoyed them to the point that Eglin has now had to step the game up
I support Elgin AF for their stewardship of this beautiful landscape the Base occupies! However:
The warning signs are the ugliest thing ever!
Perhaps blue background with white text saying simply:
Property of Eglin Air Force Base
No entry – Enforcement Ongoing
Not a fan, the beach is supposed to be enjoyed. This is going to be another area where we will be watching people pull up on boats only just like the jetty’s area… So ridiculous. Locals should have access too. I used to take my kids there.
The air force may “own” the land, but we the people own the air force. It’s our beach to enjoy.
So let me get this right everyone is happy about protecting the environment and saving taxpayer’s money. Than what is with the new trail they just made with a Dozer down the south side of the road and who paid for the road to nowhere. How dare you walk on the sand dunes but Dozers are Ok.
Actually I believe parking with walkovers could have solved the issue and granted us access to the wall( for those who grew up here). Too much congestion now at the parks. The wall is shallow and safe for children. Not much difference with the Officers club on the gulf side.
I think, with the fencing, the boat world gains an advantage.
My two cents, old local!
I have been here all my life! Born here raised here and never moved anywhere else! 52 years and we gave never had to do anything like this! Always had access and been allowed to go down there because we all respected the area because we had to live here! We should keep clearing land and building huge apartment complexes and and keep stuffing more idiots in here so we can’t drive to the store without it being an hour ordeal!!! We need more disrespectful, inconsiderate, idiots in here to show us how they lived in their big cities or towns they came from! I mean they all love our area so much that they just want to move here so they can make it just as bad as the place they are from!! Just sayin!!
I will continue to go there and enjoy my time on this earth. This is bs. They just allowed the county to gangrape the south side of 98, directly across from this with their stupid pet project. Hell naw
When I was A Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office I was issuing county ordinance citations to people who were parking on the right-of-way along the area of the sea wall where the erosion is currently happening. After I cited a ‘Destinite’ who felt they could do anything they want and complained to the Sheriff, I was told to stop issuing citations. If I could have continued issuing citations along with help from other Deputies on other shifts, the erosion issue may have been longer delayed in occurring. But I will never know since the good ol’ boy environment of the Sheriff’s Office along with the revenue from Destin’s contract is the priority.
Mr.Siegel, you say we own the Air Force? Keep it up with the negative sentiment, and watch the Air Force close off each side of 98 with fences topped with razor wire. Extreme remark? Yes. Drive down Santa Rosa Blvd to where it is fenced off. Drive down from Navarre to that end. Tell the friendly guards that you own the Air Force, and you are going where you please.
This is bs. They just allowed the county
Why so many boot lockers here
Typical government overreach.
Would you prefer they sell it to developers and ruin it completely woth condos?
This article is obviously written by someone with 0 knowledge of the area. The erosion happening now is because ” The Wall,” as anyone that’s been here since the 70’s and 80’s know used to be a actual seawall that prevented erosion. It was destroyed by Hurricane Opal in 94 and Ivan. They never rebuilt it. The base radar buildings were also destroyed….guess they couldnt say cars were driving on the beach destoying those too. So instead of blaming drivers….get out there and rebuild the seawall! There’s been a wire fence out there for decades, it’s fallen down and people ignore them. The officers club used to have a restaurant out there to buy food at. The military shouldn’t even be doing what it’s doing and the county should never have built that road that sand will cover up each store. Ill happily get a contract with okaloosa to power sweep the sidewalk clean for 500k a year.
Great history lesson. The only point I’ll disagree with is the multi use path… I think its a good thing. Maybe a lot of money but it may save a few lives.
This fence is a colossal waste of DoD dollars and needs to be investigated. These dollars should have been spent supporting the warfighter. The ruse that it protects environmentally sensitive lands and protects the shoreline is bogus. In most spots it is within feet of the water line with the remainder exposed up to the FDOT right of way. This could have been done like they do in Navarre and along the dunes with string. I hope they did an environmental study to identify the species they are protecting. The erosion of the shoreline is primarily due to natural effects from the bay and not driving in the sand. Read “Dave’s” reply for the history of the erosion.
The air force doesn’t own or need the land! It isn’t theirs. It was mostly Choctawhatchee National Forest. The air force tried to sell that land in the 2000’s but fot caught. It’s the people’s land and customary use needs to be applied. I’m not talking about just the beach and jetties, all of the “range” was a National Forest, when the department of war obtained it, the agreement was that the people still got to use it. I understand that it has been very important to our national defense but left to local air force officials, they will just continue to take “our” land and access to it away.
I wonder just how long the new fencing will last,how long before someone plows into it. I’ve lived here. For 50 yrs, and can remember the beaches before all the condos,and the fences,thanks to the people who don’t live here year around and the same people who claim our beaches,we locals have all but we lost our beautiful coast line. And to the Town council,and mayor’s over the year’s ,who have become fat cat’s. But,hey what do we locals matter? Fencing, condo’s,pay for parking, in very little access to the Beaches. We asked for it,we got it.