Beach beautification committee continues projects

The Navarre Beach beautification committee will be able to continue efforts to make the beach a better place after the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners approved the committee’s request for about $30,000.

The volunteer committee will use the money to continue its landscaping maintenance improvements.

Committee member Jim Taylor said the committee formed in 2006.

“It was a mess after the hurricanes,” he said. “We needed to do a lot of work.” Even before Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis hit the island, Taylor said the county was in charge of maintenance and only did the bare minimum. In the beginning more than 30 people joined the committee and projects were completed using donated funds.

The committee sold small islands to donors for $3,000 and in exchange the committee would install five palm trees, mulch, stones and a bench with the donor’s name engraved in it on the landscaped island.

The committee also sold trash receptacles for $300 each to place along the Navarre Beach walking trail and dog stations so dog walkers can clean up after their pet while walking.

For more on this story, see the Dec. 15 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.