Liquor OK
Non-profits now allowed to have alcoholic drinks at parks, paving way for festivals
BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Picture courtesy of Paul Anderson Santa Rosa County Commissioners recently voted to allow park patrons to consume alcohol in county parks.

State approved non-profits recently got the green light to allow or sell alcohol at a county park.

Navarre Park will be the first Santa Rosa park to allow alcohol.

"This would allow [non-profit groups] to hold something similar to Evenings in Seville," Commissioner Gordon Goodin said.

The revised ordinance passed by the board would not require any additional actions by interested parties outside of the normal event permitting procedure.

However, not all county commissioners thought it was a good idea to approve the change.

"I have to go on record to say I do not think alcohol should be allowed in any of our county parks," Commissioner Robert Cole said. "Those parks are for families, and serve a lot of children. We have never allowed alcohol in our parks and if we approve the first request we are going to have more parks in here wanting alcohol in their community park. I am voting against it."

But Cole was the only commissioner to vote against allowing park patrons to consume alcohol at an upcoming chamber of commerce event. The other four commissioners voted yes.

The request was brought by the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, wanting to let non-profit groups to provide alcohol in the park during special events. They also pointed to the county's Tourist Development Council opening their new building in the park, and events happening in the building that might include the desire to serve wine or beer.

Franklin Hayes contributed to this report.