After long and difficult consideration, the Destin Chamber's Board of Directors has decided to cancel Paddle at the Park, bringing an end to its 12-year run. The event was also cancelled in 2020 due to Covid.
Created to help draw tourists to the area, promote a trendy new sport, and partner with home-grown paddleboard manufacturer BOTE, the event drew close to 175 paddlers at the outset. While that number declined slightly through the years, after the 2020 cancellation, participation never bounced back, with only 52 paddlers in 2024. The effort put into this event, the amount of work it requires, and the number of volunteers needed have become too much with so few participants.
“This was not an easy decision for the board of directors,” said Jenni Brunson, Chairman of the Board. “During the years, this event became a staple of our community. We are thankful for the outstanding partners and sponsors who contributed to its success. After considering the ongoing decline in participants, the value to continue wasn’t there for our sponsors, our partners, and the chamber.”
“It’s sad to see it go,” said Shane Moody, President and CEO of the Chamber. “But sometimes organizations such as ours have to look at the things we are doing, evaluate the value those events are bringing to the business community, and make decisions based on that evaluation. Some very difficult decisions must be made at times. This was simply one of those times.”
While conversations are ongoing to create an experience to replace this iconic event, the Destin Chamber will continue its mission of ‘Advocating for Businesses, Strengthening our Community.’
