Padgett Park is first of 19 Walton County parks to be adopted

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. ( WMBB ) — Walton County joined the Adopt-a-Park program this year.

The first of 19 locations to have foster parents is Padgett Park in Santa Rosa Beach, a story bringing together the military mission and Walton County history.

The First battalion 7 ^th Special Forces Group out of Eglin Air Force base adopted Padgett Park in Santa Rosa Beach.

Padgett park is named after Sgt. Timothy Padgett, a Walton County native killed in action while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on May 8, 2007.

“It’s the very least we can do. And these military men are dedicated to making that one of the best parks we have in Walton and I’m so proud to be a part of it. They have taken the ball and run with it,” District 5 Commissioner Tony Anderson said.

Money is not the currency for adoption but rather time, with groups agreeing to clean and work on the park once a quarter.

The group spent a day with the South Walton Fire District to revamp the destination.

“We had about 40 or 50 volunteers and we also had the South Walton Fire District and they repainted the building, also repainted the bathroom,” Anderson said.

A formal plaque honoring Sgt. Padgett will be unveiled Wednesday morning. Padgett also worked for the fire district before joining the armed forces.

“They gave a heartwarming speech about how they protect their own. They honor their dead. They honor the people that serve with them in this battalion, in the special forces, but these are the best of the best. And Sgt. Padgett gave his life for his country and he should be honored,” Anderson said.

The public is invited to the unveiling, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the park off JD Miller Rd.

Find links to the Adopt-A-Park program online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.