One Inlet Beach steward found a simple way to reduce beach waste, help families, and create a new Walton County tradition.

Along the shoreline of Inlet Beach in Walton County, Florida, a simple idea is making a big impact.
It comes in the form of a bucket. But not just any bucket. Bobby Buckets are small community toy stations created by Walton County Beach Steward Bobby Watkins to give forgotten beach toys a second life, helping families enjoy the beach while reducing unnecessary waste.

The concept is simple:
Take a toy. Leave a toy. Enjoy the beach. Leave no trace. And it all started because Bobby noticed something many people overlooked.

A Beach Steward Who Saw an Opportunity
As a Beach Steward with Walton County Code Compliance, Bobby Watkins spends his days interacting with visitors along one of Florida’s most beautiful coastlines. Working the B Shift at Inlet Beach, he helps educate beachgoers, protects the shoreline, and makes sure visitors have a safe and memorable experience. Over time, he noticed a pattern. Families visiting Walton County beaches often purchased sand toys for their children: buckets, shovels, molds, and other beach treasures. But at the end of a vacation, those items were often left behind. Many toys were difficult to pack. Some families did not have room in their vehicles or luggage. Too often, perfectly usable toys ended up as trash. Instead of seeing abandoned toys as waste, Bobby saw an opportunity.

What if another child could enjoy them?

That question became the foundation for Bobby Buckets.

From Discarded Containers to Beach Treasure Chests

The idea was born from resourcefulness. According to Lead Beach Steward Tammy Lakin, Bobby rescued discarded landscaping containers that were headed for the landfill and transformed them into community toy stations. He drilled holes in the bottoms so sand and water could drain through, giving the containers a new purpose along Walton County’s beaches. The result? A simple, sustainable solution that helps families share the joy of the beach. Placed near beach boardwalks, Bobby Buckets give visitors an easy way to participate in beach stewardship.

Families arriving at a beach access may find a bucket filled with sand toys waiting for them. Families leaving Walton County can leave behind gently used toys for the next child to discover.
It is a small act of kindness that creates a ripple effect.

A New Tradition of Beach Stewardship in Walton County

The Bobby Buckets program represents a larger idea that has long defined Walton County: caring for a place means caring for the people who visit it. The buckets help:

• – Reduce plastic waste on Walton County beaches
• – Keep usable beach toys out of landfills
• – Give families a convenient way to share resources
• – Create unexpected moments of joy for children

The program can also be adjusted seasonally, relocated during storm conditions, or removed when needed, allowing beach stewards to continue protecting the coastline while serving visitors.

Small Ideas Can Make a Big Difference

Walton County Code Compliance Director Tony Cornman said Bobby Buckets represents the passion beach stewards bring to their work every day.

“Bobby, and all of our Beach Stewards, are deeply passionate about our beach and work very hard every day to help keep it beautiful,” Cornman said. “Bobby Buckets is just one example of how every day our beach stewards welcome visitors and do their part by helping to ensure everyone has an awesome time while they’re here.”

For Bobby Watkins, the reward is not recognition. It is seeing a child build a sandcastle with a shovel that another family left behind. It is knowing a forgotten toy became part of someone else’s vacation memory. It is protecting the beaches he loves.