MILTON — Santa Rosa County could be seeing an improvement in recreational field space on Avalon Boulevard if it approves plans for the construction of new athletic fields. The Local Option Sales Tax committee voted to have staff pursue options for a centrally located area for additional athletic fields.
At the June 19 LOST meeting, Santa Rosa County Administrator Dan Schebler presented the board with a proposal to create a series of 10 fields on 115 acres of land at the now defunct Moors Golf Course. The fields would serve as multipurpose fields for soccer and football.
“This would be a facility that would be directed toward tournaments and tourism,” Schebler said. “This is one option that would address I think field and also open up recreation tourism as an option just north of I-10.”
Schebler said that buying the property may not be the best option financially due to the high cost to renovate the land. The cost for building the road to the field would be approximately $750,000, Schebler said. Then there is the task of leveling the golf course and maybe relocating the course's sprinkler system. Entering into a long-term lease with the owner of the property, he said, would be more sound while investing in roads, parking and fields.
“This would be the top priority I think from a recreation perspective if we were going to do a large project.” Schebler said.
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: New recreation fields proposed