The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island (also known as Newman C. Brackin Wayside park) is an official county park serving as a public beach access with multiple amenities for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Along with free parking, pavilions, picnic tables, public restrooms, and outdoor showers for beachgoers, The Boardwalk has become a popular destination for Gulf-front dining and lively entertainment. Restaurants include The Crab Trap, Rockin Tacos, Floyd’s Shrimp House, and Al’s Beach Club.

The Boardwalk hosts weekly fireworks during the summer season, and community events such as the Emerald Coast Motorcycle Challenge, coastal beach cleanups, “Tricks and Treasures” Halloween event, and the New Year’s Day pelican plunge.  It is also home of two legendary volleyball tournaments: Emerald Coast Volleyball Week in the spring, and the Emerald Coast Fall Classic.