Destin finally has the money it needs to fix historically troublesome Norriego Point for good, and it has BP to thank.
State officials announced Friday in Panama City that Okaloosa County will receive more than $10.2 million in Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds to use on what has been termed The Norriego Point Restoration and Recreation project.
The money represents a portion of $88 million in NRDA money to be distributed across the eight counties most affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to Florida Senate President Don Gaetz.
“This is a total game-changer for Destin,” Mayor Sam Seevers said. “We have worked long and hard over the years to restore that point. To actually receive $10,228,130 to complete the project instead of putting all our money into fixes … this is huge for Destin and Okaloosa County.”
Plans call for adding up to eight acres to the point, which separates East Pass from Destin Harbor.
“We’re restoring it to Norriego Point pre-Opal,” Seevers said.
Destin plans to develop a park at the Holiday Isle end of the point. It will include a picnic pavilion with restrooms and showers, according to a project description provided by the state.
Two embayments also will be added to “provide additional swimming areas as well as more space for boats and kayaks to pull in,” the description said.
There also will be “a trail, bike racks and vehicle parking along the access road adjacent to the park land,” according to the state.
Seevers said the money also will be used to construct sea walls to prevent erosion at the end of the point. Armoring the area will remove the need for frequent dredging.
Seevers said she anticipates the mouth of Destin Harbor “is going to be a lot wider than what it is right now.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.