Frequently Asked Questions

Reservations can be made at the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center at 132 Jet Drive NW. Please contact Recreation Coordinator Wendy Riggs at 850-833-9582 for facility availability and to make a reservation. If the field or facility is available, she will create a permit form that must be filled out completely and paid for in advance of rental. Permit requests must be submitted 30 days prior to an activity (exceptions may apply).

At the bottom of this page under related documents you can find detailed descriptions and fee schedules for athletic fields and other park facilities available for rent from the City of Fort Walton Beach.

Rates to rental city park fields, courts, pavilions and other facilities can be found here.

Rates to rent fields at the Preston Hood Athletic Complex can be found here.

The Fort Walton Beach Recreation Department has scheduled events and/or leagues throughout the year that take priority over regular facility rental requests.  These priorities are listed below:  

1. City of Fort Walton Beach organized Programs/Events

• Includes all recreation and sports programs that register through the Recreation Department
• City Events such as Concerts in the Park, 4^th of July at the Landing, etc.

2. Programs conducted by other groups or organizations that are co-established with the City of Fort Walton Beach

• Includes events such as the Billy Bowlegs Festival, Musical Echoes, Mayfest, etc.
• Sports Programs such as Emerald Coast Social Sports

3. Travel Tournaments/Rentals that have been multi-year commitments

4. Okaloosa County School Programs

The City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department requires all users of athletic facilities to provide Comprehensive Liability Insurance with $1,000,000 liability limits and naming the City of Fort Walton Beach, 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 as additionally insured.

Providing liability insurance is not required for programs operated by the Parks and Recreation Department or single-use athletic facility rentals by individuals not associated with a user group so long as the group does not exceed 15 individuals.

Accident insurance is required for all youth leagues utilizing athletic facilities. Accident insurance for adult leagues not sponsored or under the direction of the City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department is also recommended for all players on the roster.

Lighting is NOT included in the field or facility use permit, but may be available at an additional cost, depending on the facility. See Related Documents at the bottom of this page for a list of city facilities available for rent and the costs.

The City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department secures certain athletic fields to minimize wear and tear on the fields caused by excessive non-reserved use and play.

Pets are NOT permitted on athletic fields and facilities. This includes the Preston Hood Athletic Complex, the Oakland Heights and City Hall athletic fields, and the city’s pickleball facilities at both Holmes Boulevard and Mooney Road.  

Pets ARE allowed at most city parks, provided they are on a leash at all times. Dogs are allowed unleashed in the fenced dog park located at Liza Jackson Park. Signs regarding pets are posted at park entrances. If you have a question about a specific park, please contact the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center at  850-833-9576. Owners must clean up after their pets.

Alcohol consumption is NOT permitted on athletic fields unless an approved permit is issued by the City of Fort Walton Beach.

Be sure that you have your field/facility permit with you. It shows that you have permission to use that field or facility for the stated time and date. If you have any problems, please contact the Fort Walton Beach Police Department at the non-emergency number 850-833-9546.

For special events, please contact the City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department at 850-833-9576.

Yes, a rental permit is required to operate all types of instruction at the City of Fort Walton Beach's parks, including, but not limited to, classes, clinics, training and seminars.

The City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department will cancel or suspend field use whenever field conditions or weather conditions could result in injury to the players or damage to the fields. Users can call the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center at 850-833-9576 Monday through Friday during the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to verify field status.

Fields may NOT be altered. Only Parks and Recreation Department equipment is permitted on athletic fields (ex. tractors, utility vehicles and mat drags). Field alterations are prohibited (no trenches or ditches for irrigation, addition of extra clay, sand, or kitty litter) except as approved by the City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation staff.

If the athletic field is not locked, a reservation is not required for you and your child to play catch. If a group shows up with a permit to use that field, you must allow the renters to have the field.

Please contact the City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department at 850-833-9576 to report field maintenance problems.