These projects are approved to receive RESTORE Act funding in Okaloosa County:
●Economic revitalization of Niceville’s Historic Old Downtown, $400,000. Objective is to acquire property in Niceville’s historic downtown to serve as a public landing.
●Okaloosa County snorkel/dive reef construction, $1.229 million. Create a network of reefs that will fill a niche tourism market while creating a new marine habitat.
●Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza, $1.25 million. This project builds a park and plaza to serve as a public gateway to the Destin harbor and its charter fishing fleet.
●Clement Taylor Park restoration, $750,000. Restores the park by demolishing the existing playground and replacing it.
●CAST (Coastal Agriculture, Science, and Technology) five-year plan, $397,423. CAST will provide a hands-on science lab with an emphasis on ecosystems and marine life.
●Laffitte Crescent stormwater infrastructure retrofit, $432,000. Replaces failing stormwater infrastructure that contributes to flooding conditions and pollutants into Cinco Bayou.
●FWB Landing waterfront improvements Phase 1, $1.1 million. Enhance the park for community events by constructing a seawall, dock, boardwalk and other improvements.
●Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center RESTORE, $89,580. Phase 1 includes the construction of six new pools, the refurbishment of existing pools and the purchase of state-of-the-art life support systems.
●C.W. Ruckel STEM class, $16,500. Requested funds to purchase and ship modules where students can work in groups of two on various STEM programs.
●Student-led habitat restoration in Okaloosa County, $90,000. Will fund student-led restoration and protection projects at city- and county-owned properties.
●The NeighborWood at Emerald Coast Science Center, $89,999. A habitat restoration and expansion project to improve a 30,000-square-foot outdoor learning environment.
●Multi-use outdoor community facility in Niceville, $83,000. A new facility, featuring gazebos, benches and parking, that can host community functions.
●Life Center of Gregg Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, $90,000. The church is transforming the former Chester Pruitt Recreation Center into a community center.
●Enhancing the STEM biomedical sciences program, $11,039. Allows the high school’s biomedical sciences program to offer a more intense professional program.
●Choctawhatchee High School workforce development program, $89,995. Increase the current engineering, aerospace and science department.
●Okaloosa Lane bridge conversion, $90,000. Install a single-span bridge allowing the existing creek to be reestablished to conditions similar to what would have existed if the culverts had never been placed there.
●Preservation trail near Turkey Creek, $90,000. Complete Phases 1 and 2 of the preservation trail to provide healthy, recreational and educational activities within the Niceville city limits.
●Environmental and ecological science fair projects, $36,862. Expands Northwood Arts and Science Academy’s science curriculum by creating an ongoing school-wide science fair project focusing on environment and ecology.
●Bringing Up the Trades, $67,321. Purchase materials so a basic construction course can be offered at Baker School.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 19 Okaloosa projects receive RESTORE funds