The Parks and Recreation Department maintains county public parks and boat landings located along the banks of the Choctawhatchee River, Holmes Creek, and at many of Washington County’s beautiful lakes. The department employs inmate supervisors and Washington Correctional Institute and Caryville Work Camp provide inmate labor utilized in the construction, refurbishment, and upkeep of the parks and boat landings. Washington County takes great pride in its natural resources and the Parks and Recreation Department, in cooperation with the Department of Corrections, keeps the parks and boat landings clean and safe for public use.
     The Department has been very successful in applications to the Department of Environmental Protection for development of new parks. Hicks Lake Park, St. Joseph Community Park, and the renovation of Blue Lake Park and Daniels Lake Sports Complex are some of the recent awards.  Construction  on Campbell Park, between Vernon and Ebro, has been completed. Our newest park under construction is Hunter Park located in Vernon.
      The Department has also constructed several boat ramps with monies from Florida Boating Improvement Program grants. These grants are currently administered through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Formerly, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and later the Florida Department of Natural Resources administered the Florida Boating Improvement Program. Cedar Tree Boat Ramp, Jenkins Landing Boat Ramp, and Stewart Lake Boat Ramp are some of the boat ramps either refurbished or constructed through these grants. Our most recent additions to Washington County's boat ramp facilities are Two Creek Estates (Fanning Branch Park) and Litard Log.

Most of the various projects we construct are funded with grant monies. The Department will continue to apply for grants in hopes of providing more recreational activities to the public.
     Our Department is also responsible for coordinating rentals of four of our local community centers; Blue Lake Community Center, Five Points Community Center, Hinson Crossroads Community Center,  Orange Hill Community Center, and the new Sunny Hills Community Center.. The rental fee for each of the above-listed community centers is $160.50 plus tax per event; an additional refundable cleaning deposit in the amount of $53.50 plus tax will be charged in addition to rental fees. Our office has prepared rental rules and a rental contract for persons renting these community centers, both of which have been approved for use by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. You may contact our office for more information.
    *** Washington County Equestrian Arena
                       is now
 open.

Rental fee is $ 300.00
 For a copy of the rental agreement click here. ***

     Finally, the department is responsible for roadside debris cleaning, and grounds maintenance at the County offices, including the Government Annex. They have received numerous awards from local garden clubs and the City of Chipley. We have recently undertaken the additional responsibility of cleaning the Washington County Government Annex Offices thanks to additional county inmate labor provided by the Washington County Jail.

              Recreational Facilities
                             (Click for a complete list of facilities)

Our Staff

Deidra Pettis, Public Services Coordinator

                                             Paul Culbreth

 Robert David
James (Jay) Davis
James Finch
Gene Wilferd