By Tamara L. Young, PhD, City of Destin Public Information Manager
It was 2006, the year of the Sago Mine disaster, the Enron trial and Italy scored a penalty shot to win the World Cup.
In Destin, the chatter amongst City Council was about a park that would serve as the “Gateway to the Harbor.” At an Oct. 16, 2006, council meeting, then City Manager Greg Kisela explained the background behind the acquisition. He said one of the city’s constant priorities was to increase and enhance public access to its beaches and waterways; preserving public access to the Harbor was a high priority. The property closing was scheduled within a week’s time. Not long after, resolution 07-16 named the park to be located at 206 Harbor Blvd. as “Capt Royal Melvin Heritage Park.”
Seventeen years after that resolution was adopted, Melvin’s great granddaughter helped cut the ribbon at the park’s official opening July 18.
“It has always been great hearing the stories growing up about my great grandfather,” said 14-year-old McKenzie Harris. “I didn’t get the chance to meet him, so this park means a lot to me to be able to have that piece of history for my generation to be able to enjoy for a long time to come. It makes me proud to have that heritage in my blood. It was a great honor to be able to cut the ribbon for the park and help introduce the Melvin heritage into a new generation.”
“We are the sons of Capt. Royal Melvin,” began Bo Melvin, as he and his brother, Scott, took to the podium. “It is an honor to be here today. It has been a long, long journey.”
Bo and Scott said it all circled back to their grandparents. “If it wasn’t for them settling on this piece of property right here, five generations of Melvins wouldn’t have been able to live here or play here,” said Bo. “Our father and grandparents would be humbled and honored.”
“My brother and I were very fortunate to have grown up on our family property on the Destin Harbor when we were kids,” said Scott. “We were on the bridge between old Destin fishing and the beginning of a new era. We knew and fished with most of the old-time legendary captains and then later made our own path to becoming captains. Growing up in Destin was like living in paradise. But the memories of being with our father and the rest of our family are what stands out the most. It was just wonderful.”
Mayor Bobby Wagner said, “We could never have done this without the partnership of the private entities, the city council, the citizens and the family members that this is in honor of. This is really what community is about.”
He then presented Bo and Scott with challenge coins, bearing the engraved city seal and meant to honor special community commitment or service. “With over five generations, I believe that very much puts you guys in this category,” he said. “I really appreciate you guys being a part of it and allowing us to carry on your legacy and the name with a new city park.”
Undersheriff Charlie Nix, representing the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, remarked how the family played an integral part in bringing folks to the area. “They established roots in Destin long before the nickname ‘World’s Luckiest Fishing Village’,” he said. “We are excited for the City of Destin, its residents and visitors alike, that we’ll be able to enjoy this beautiful new city park in their honor and in their memory. Scott, Bo and other family members, I’m sure your father, Royal, and others are smiling down today.”
City Manager Lance Johnson echoed the appreciation to the Melvin family, and thanked the current and past council members “for sticking with this project. I also want to thank all the staff members for pitching in and always keeping the faith. The residents, you guys stayed behind this project and I cannot express my appreciation enough.”
With a small playground, restrooms, signage sharing history, water fountain, picnic pavilion, benches and priceless views and access to the water, the park is already living up to its nickname of Gateway to the Harbor.
While the park and surrounding area is for everyone, it will always hold abundant memories for the Melvins. “As a young child, my morning job was to walk to my grandparents’ house, located on the same land, and bring back a cup of hot coffee in an old white Navy mug to my father,” reminisced Bo. “It was always a challenge to make the 300 steps back to our house without spilling the majority of it. Around the age of 12, our father bought my brother and me a 14-foot Kennedy Craft fishing boat that was built in Destin. We were allowed to explore and fish the Harbor from one end to the other. As we got older, my brother and I worked for our father on two of our charter boats, the Venture II and the Venture III, as mates and eventually captains. Growing up in Destin was an exciting time, and we got to watch it turn into the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”
Views: 7
