Why is an 82-space parking lot on a 1.25-acre parcel still under construction well over a year after its groundbreaking? The county's plan for the Driftwood Road Municipal Parking Facility at 76 Driftwood Rd. answers the question, because the part that matters most sits under the asphalt. The county stopped work in October 2025 over the stone in a drainage system, and the project has been on a new clock since June 2026.
The Lowest Spot in the Neighborhood
The site isn't new to anyone who drives Driftwood Road. Before construction, the parcel already served as public parking, with no amenities and no marked spaces. It sits a quarter mile north of the Miramar Regional Beach Access, and the county picked it as overflow parking for that access.
The county had another reason for wanting this particular piece of ground. At the June 17, 2025 groundbreaking, Brian Kellenberger, then director of beach operations, explained it in remarks published by Walton County Tourism:
"[This is] the lowest spot in this immediate area. Not only are we collecting the stormwater off of this site that we're going to generate with impervious surface, we're collecting a lot of stormwater offsite. Underneath this whole parking lot ... is a very large exfiltration system."
According to that release, the Beach Operations and Public Works departments worked on the project together because of the stormwater system. District Four Commissioner Donna Johns described the payoff in terms of sidewalks, so people walking to the beach "don't have to walk through the street and try to dodge cars all the time."
So the facility does several jobs at once. It holds parking, a pedestrian route to the beach, and a large drainage system for water from the surrounding blocks as well as from its own pavement. The drainage is the part that set the schedule.
Eight Months Stopped Over the Stone Underneath
At the groundbreaking, the county estimated 11 months of construction. A Board of County Commissioners agenda report for the October 13, 2026 meeting gives the full history. It shows how long this project has been in the pipeline and where it stalled.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| June 22, 2021 | County approves a $179,557 task order with Atkins North America for design, development and permitting |
| September 11, 2023 | Commissioners authorize the chairman to sign the Florida Department of Environmental Protection stormwater construction permit |
| June 20, 2024 | Commissioners approve putting the project out for bid |
| January 29, 2025 | Bids opened; Elite Building Group is the responsive bidder at $2,210,719.12 |
| October 8, 2025 | Stop-work notice issued over an unacceptable aggregate in the exfiltration system |
| June 2, 2026 | Construction resumes under a 243-day, time-only change order |
| December 27, 2026 | Revised contract completion date |
The stoppage lasted almost eight months. It was about aggregate, the crushed stone that fills an exfiltration system so stormwater can spread out and soak into the ground. In the county's words, the county and contractor worked through "the use of an unacceptable aggregate in the exfiltration system." The fix added time and nothing else. The June 2026 change order added 243 days to Elite Building Group's contract and left the $2,210,719.12 price where it was.
At the Tourist Development Council's October 6, 2026 meeting, the county's progress slide listed the project at 35% complete, with completion "expected winter 2026." The contract deadline is December 27.
What Goes on Top
Once the drainage is in place, the visible part of the facility goes on top of it. The October 2026 TDC slide lists these features:
- 82 parking spaces
- Four electric vehicle charging stations
- Dedicated parking for ADA, low-speed vehicles and bicycles
- An 800-square-foot restroom facility
- A hub for the South Walton Beach Tram
- Drainage improvements
The county's project page describes the transit stop as air-conditioned.
The 82 spaces matter most when compared with what's already at the beach. The county's beach access chart lists 200 spaces at the Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access at 2375 Scenic Gulf Drive, with 138 in the main lot and 62 in the north lot. Driftwood would add about two-fifths more parking for that access. That access already has lifeguards, accessible restrooms and an accessible boardwalk, according to Visit South Walton.
Neither the stone nor the parking spaces are paid for by property taxes. The project is funded by the Tourist Development Tax, a 5% tax on short-term rentals in south Walton County. Residents pay it only when they book a local rental for a staycation.
A Scenic Gulf Drive Stop on the Beach Tram
The tram hub extends the county's tram service to Miramar Beach. Walton County's free Beach Tram currently runs from two park-and-ride lots well east of Miramar Beach. Its off-season schedule started October 1.
- 393 Beach Park and Ride, 1668 S County Hwy 393, runs the Ed Walline Express every 10 minutes and a Dune Allen Local every 60 minutes, daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Grayton Beach Park and Ride, 1505 County Hwy 283 S, runs the Grayton Express every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., plus a Blue Mountain Local every 60 minutes.
Once construction is finished, Driftwood will join the tram network with a direct route to Miramar RBA and to other regional beach accesses along Scenic Gulf Drive. The county says final routes are still to come. Today, both tram lines are on the 30A side of the county. Driftwood would bring the system to Miramar Beach's own beachfront.
The two existing tram lots also show how county beach parking now works. Walton County's paid parking program started April 3, 2026. According to Park Walton County, three lots currently require payment: Van Ness Butler, 393 Municipal and Grayton Beach Municipal. From November through February the rate is $5 a day. From March through October it's $5 an hour or $15 for the full day. Payment is by phone or card, and cash isn't accepted.
Full-time residents can register for a County Resident Annual Parking Permit. It costs $5 per vehicle per year plus a $3.50 transaction fee, and a household can register up to four vehicles. The permit is linked to the license plate, so there's no decal. Applications can take up to 72 hours to approve. The county counts someone as a resident if they live in Walton County and own a home there or rent one for at least six months, including condominiums.
Legion Park's Upgrade Waits on a Permit
Miramar Beach has a second county project in the queue, and it hasn't broken ground yet. Plans for Legion Park at 119 Crest Dr. call for these additions:
- Added parking for cars and for trucks with trailers
- New sidewalks, pavilions and benches
- A 20-foot-diameter splash pad
- New playground equipment
- A resurfaced basketball court
- A relocated pickleball court plus one more court
An earlier staff report also showed two piers along the park's boat ramp.
Legion Park's review has also turned on the ground under the park. On February 4, 2026, the county's Technical Review Committee gave the development order conditional approval. The conditions were resolving concerns about historical and archaeological resources and providing a narrative on possible Bureau of Land Management deed restrictions. On the TDC's October 6, 2026 slide, Legion Park Improvements was listed under projects in design, with final permit approval pending.
Driftwood's next milestone is its December 27 contract deadline. Legion Park's is its final permit.
The parking rates and permit details above are general information from Walton County's program pages, not legal or financial advice, so confirm your own household's eligibility directly with Park Walton County.
If you want to know how the Driftwood lot and the new tram route could affect beach access from your street or from a rental you own on Scenic Gulf Drive, Sold in Paradise can walk you through it. Find Your Slice of Paradise and book a free 30A Market Consultation with our team.
