Pondering a South Walton Sports Complex

So, whether "we the people", want or need a sports complex is the hot question right now.

Before considering any proposal that would require such a huge investment, I hope the county commissioners get unbiased input from the 2 important groups that provide the tax money. 

Group 1 - Vacationers (Our economy doesn't work so well without them). Since so many of our vacationers are loyal, repeat visitors, would this sports complex be useful to them? Aside from beautiful beaches, natural beauty; pedestrian paths, great places to stay, dine and shop; safe family friendly activities and festivals, what more do our visitors wish they had? I do hear people looking for public tennis courts and they are always looking for ways to entertain their children but I don't think I've ever heard anyone looking for a lacrosse field.

Except when the weather is bad and the the gulf is rough, they seem to be pretty happy.

Group 2 - Residents

Would a sports complex give residents what they want and don't have? What is on the priority list?
We are having trouble answering the relatively simple issues that need attending like traffic management, bike path maintenance, infrastructure repair and maintenance and code enforcement. Heck we had to close the library on Saturday, how pitiful is that? Before we start a sports complex shouldn't we attend to those issues and the more complicated issues like a master plan for community growth to guide us and economic diversity to strengthen us?  

I'm all for more parks and recreation but at this point in our development, I wish any kind of "complex" we build could appeal to the larger community and if we need a "complex" to bring more people in maybe we should think of something different from what they have in Bay and Okaloosa County. The sports complex is a bold idea but this is a very creative community and if there is money to spend on something this big, maybe we can come up with an idea that will offer something unique. A state of the art community pool would help our local residents and purposed creatively, it could even be a safe haven for visitors and residents to use when the gulf is rough. And since we have an established arts and music culture here already, why not facilities for events and festivals that require more than what the beach communities can offer as a venue. 

Maybe the commissioners should initiate a "big idea" town meeting. RFI Day (Request for Ideas). We are at a cross-roads and since we will always be at a cross-roads, our county commissioners need to think ahead. Our future depends on it.

PS: An Olympic sized community pool seems almost like a birthright. Florida schools should own water sports. Growing up in south Florida the community pool was where every kid went for fun, swimming lessons, swim meets, and pool parties. In central Florida where we lived before we moved here there was a beautiful community pool where my daughter learned to swim. That community pool was the center of summer activities. Multi-generational activities I might add. There were playing fields and a fitness center and a community room for classes of all kinds but the centerpiece was the pool. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking but I think it was a really good thing.