Who owns the beach? A heated battle plays out in the Florida Panhandle

OMEGAZEPRIME News
Published on September 4, 2026 • Originally reported by Debbie Elliott. OMEGAZEPRIME provides independent news coverage and analysis for our readers. Stay informed with the latest developments.
A beachgoer uses the boardwalk at Ed Walline Regional Beach Access off Scenic Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. This stretch of the Gulf Coast has become "ground zero" in a battle between private property rights and public beach access.

After years of fighting over who gets to use the beach, and where, in Walton County, Florida, public-use advocates are calling for a state constitutional amendment to finally settle the matter.

(Image credit: Erich Martin for NPR)

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