Photos of the location at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Eglin Parkway before and after the new sign was installed.
A recent project by the City of Fort Walton Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency is lighting up the city’s downtown…literally
In 2025, the City of Fort Walton Beach leased a small triangle of vacant land that was located in a high-visibility area along U.S. Highway 98 in the downtown district. The dilapidated property consisted of an old building foundation, surrounded by dirt and weeds.
After acquiring the property, the City’s CRA put out the call for artists to submit proposals for a new welcome sign that would greet visitors and highlight the downtown area and businesses.
Mural Artist Christina Donahoe of Christina Custom Art submitted a design that was selected from a field of 46 entries and received $5,000 for her efforts.
Donahoe’s artwork depicts a paddleboard and wave, reflecting the importance of the local area’s waterways, and features a variety of visual elements unique to the area, ranging from a prehistoric 1200-year-old Indian Temple Mound that sits nearby to the military aircraft that fly the skies over this Northwest Florida community.
From Donahoe’s design, A World of Signs created a 15-foot-tall, 3-dimensional sign that sits atop a stone pedestal. The sign is illuminated from within and visible to both eastbound and westbound motorists traveling on U.S. 98. The pedestal is surrounded by colored pavers depicting a beach scene, with concrete “beachball” bollards protecting the area from vehicle traffic.
“It was a pleasure collaborating with the FWB team, A World of Signs, HNL Pavers, and Christina Custom Art to create such a beautiful landmark welcoming visitors to the downtown area,” said CRA Administrator Alisa Burleson. “I look forward to bringing many more beautification projects that will further enhance the CRA District.”
ABOUT THE FORT WALTON BEACH CRA
The Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency was established in 1977 with a mission to blight, enhance infrastructure, and improve community safety through targeted urban design and investments that create a more attractive, safe, and economically vibrant downtown area. The CRA District includes 607 acres, representing about 12 percent of the city.