Get Down Celebrates Inlet Beach Underpass Opening Oct 29

The public is invited to attend the opening of the new pedestrian underpass at the Inlet Beach Underpass Get Down on Tuesday, October 29 from 4-7PM at 30Avenue in Inlet Beach. The free event starts on the south side of the underpass near Shades Bar & Grill with a ribbon cutting at 4:00 p.m., and ends at 30Avenue.

The family event also includes kid’s crafts, live music and light refreshments to enjoy during the festivities on the green at 30Avenue, located at 12805 U.S. Highway 98.

The Inlet Beach Underpass Get Down celebrates the hard work from all who brought this new addition, which allows for easy and safe passageway under busy Highway 98.

“We’re excited it’s done, that it’s going to save lives and that it ended up being such a wonderful piece of infrastructure for our communities,” said Leigh Moore, executive director for Scenic Walton.

According to Moore, the idea for the underpass came about over 10 years ago from local businesses anticipating robust growth in the area. The organization Scenic Walton led the project, which then became a collaboration between the Florida Department of Transportation, Walton County officials, and Walton County Tourism, with support from local foundations and businesses.

The underpass also features an art component, the inclusion of 10 murals by local artists selected by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.

Moore noted how the underpass will work aesthetically with the currently structures and surroundings at Inlet Beach’s intersection of 30A and Highway 98. “What we're trying to do is two things; we want to protect that natural beauty and enhance it where we can, and we also want to minimize the negative impact of the built environment on the natural environment,” said Moore.

10 New Murals Installed In U.S. Highway 98 Pedestrian Underpass

The CAA is proud to announce that original murals commissioned and created by 10 local artists were recently installed on the walls of Walton County’s first pedestrian underpass at U.S. Highway 98 in Inlet Beach, which opened to the public over Labor Day weekend. The 136-foot-long underpass frames the east end of Walton County at the high-traffic corner of Hwy. 98 and County Hwy. 30A, both designated scenic corridors.

The installation includes artworks by Francisco Adaro, Katherine Boggs, Heather Clements, Bradley Copeland, Olga Guy, Wes Hinds, Sarah Page, Andy Saczynski, Andrea Scurto and Lindsay Tobias. Artists were selected from the CAA’s pre-vetted Public Artist Directory and each created a mural measuring 20 ft wide x 8 ft high.

The public art component is part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s greater $5.6 million Underpass project and was created in collaboration with Scenic Walton, Walton County Board of County Commissioners, and Walton County Tourism Department. Additional support was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, St. Joe Community Foundation, Rosemary Beach Realty, Market 30A, 30A.com, Morning Star Foundation, 30Avenue, Howard Group, and John and Nina Freer.

“After years of planning and collaboration, we are excited to unveil these works of art in an underpass that will provide safe passage to so many Walton County residents and visitors,” said CAA President & CEO Jennifer Steele. “ The murals wonderfully express the theme of connectivity and relationship among humans, nature, and our built environment, and the CAA is grateful to be a part of this important project that provides connection for our community.”

All are invited to attend the Inlet Beach Underpass Get Down event on Saturday, September 28 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in celebration of the new underpass. The “Get Down” will feature an official ribbon cutting and parade through the tunnel followed by live music and arts activities on the Green at 30Avenue. The event is free and open to the public, and food and beverages will be available for purchase from 30Avenue’s restaurants.

The installation will grow to include Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) replica sculptures, including Common Chord from Vince Tatum sponsored by St. Joe Community Foundation, Let’s Not Blow This from Kevin Reilly sponsored by Rosemary Beach Realty, and The Grayt Pineapple from Rachel Herring McCord, that will be installed on the north and south entrances of the underpass in late fall 2024. Produced in partnership with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association, the UMA was the first Art in Public Spaces project for the CAA.

The CAA’s Art in Public Spaces Program is designed to foster collaboration, celebrate community, encourage tourism and exploration, stimulate the economy, and enhance the physical environment as well as the unique culture and beauty of Walton County.