Scenic Walton Celebrates Momentum on Community Initiatives Across Walton County
Recent milestones highlight collaborative efforts to advance resilient infrastructure, community beautification, and scenic preservation across Walton County.
SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL – [JULY 10, 2026] – Meaningful change happens through collaboration, persistence, and a shared vision for the future. Scenic Walton is celebrating significant progress on several initiatives that will help shape Walton County for generations to come, including advancing countywide underground utilities planning, securing additional funding for the Freeport Gateway Landscape Project, and moving the 30A West Gateway Landscape Project closer to reality.
One of the most significant milestones came when funding for an Opinion of Probable Cause, the critical first step toward developing a countywide underground utilities implementation plan, advanced into Walton County's draft 2026/2027 budget. The study will evaluate the scope and implementation of a countywide initiative to underground overhead utilities that would strengthen hurricane resilience, improve electric reliability, enhance public safety, preserve scenic beauty, and support long-term economic development. Scenic Walton also recognizes the many residents who voiced their support for underground utilities during Walton County's Strategic Planning process and commends the South Walton Community Council for helping encourage community engagement.
Scenic Walton is also celebrating the City of Freeport's recent $100,000 Florida Department of Transportation Highway Beautification Grant, which doubles the funding available for the city's U.S. 331 Gateway Landscape Project. Scenic Walton worked alongside City planning staff to help identify the project, develop the initial design through its Walton Safe & Beautiful Program, and encourage the City to pursue additional state funding. Once completed, the project will create a more welcoming northern gateway into Freeport while enhancing roadway aesthetics, improving stormwater management, and incorporating landscape features that naturally calm traffic. Scenic Walton extends its appreciation to the Freeport City Council, Planning Director Latilda Hughes-Neel, AICP, Sean Daly and Ruppert Landscape, and the Florida Department of Transportation. A special word of thanks goes out to the St. Joe Community Foundation for funding the Walton Safe & Beautiful program.
Momentum is also continuing in South Walton as the 30A West Gateway Landscape Project has advanced into the proposed budget for the Walton County Tourist Development Council. Scenic Walton is pursuing the project in partnership with Friends of Scenic 30-A to create an attractive western gateway to Scenic Highway 30A while adding entry signage at both ends of 30A recognizing it as both a Florida Scenic Highway and a Federal Scenic Byway. Notably, the project remains the only capital improvement project included in the proposed TDC budget, reinforcing the importance of investing in beautification, placemaking, and the visitor experience.
"These projects may look different on the surface, but they all share the same purpose: protecting what makes Walton County special while investing in its future," said Leigh Moore, Executive Director of Scenic Walton. "Whether we're advocating for underground utilities, helping communities secure beautification funding, or enhancing our scenic corridors, each of these initiatives improves quality of life while preserving the character that makes Walton County such a remarkable place. We're grateful to our community partners, local governments, and residents who continue working alongside us to move these important projects forward."
Together, these milestones demonstrate growing momentum for resilient infrastructure, scenic preservation, and thoughtful community development throughout Walton County. Scenic Walton remains committed to working with public and private partners to ensure future growth protects the natural beauty and unique character that define our communities.
For more information about Scenic Walton and its initiatives, visit ScenicWalton.org.
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About Scenic Walton
Scenic Walton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing the scenic beauty, safety, and quality of life in Walton County, Florida. Through strategic partnerships and community advocacy, the organization advances initiatives that support thoughtful growth, including corridor landscaping, utility undergrounding, pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and high standards for context-sensitive development. Scenic Walton believes that protecting what makes Walton County unique is essential to its long-term vitality, resilience, and sense of place. Learn more at ScenicWalton.org.
