Passage of Time

A New Sculpture Heightens Art and Culture

By Morgan Power | Renderings courtesy of St. JOE

Watersound Origins is a meticulously planned coastal village in South Walton, Florida. Nested along the shores of Lake Powell and convenient located near Highway 30-A, this community offers a plethora of amenities for residents and visitors alike. Opening in 2026, the Miami-based Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation has chosen a large parcel of land within the community to create a unique arts destination, Longleaf Art Park.

Spanning over fifteen acres and open to the public, Longleaf Art Park will not just be a place for leisure but will serve as a cultural and educational hub that will enhance and enrich the community. Offering a serene setting for people of all ages and all interest levels in art, this art park is something that’s not yet been seen in the area.

Longleaf Art Park will be anchored around a pavilion serving as a community hub and featuring the 217-foot-long Passage of Time sculpture from world-renowned artist Richard Serra, who passed away in March 2024. The general concept of this park was to provide a heightened and pure experience of the Passage of Time sculpture while keeping construction and distraction around the site to a minimum. This concept led most of the park’s amenities to be situated on the cleared half of the land away from the sculpture. Visitors will enter this pavilion space via glass vestibules located at the pockets of the sculpture on opposing ends, which promotes a more intimate experience with the sculpture.

​​The Longleaf Art Park is not just a space for art but a work of art in itself. The pavilion, serving as a community hub, is a testament to innovative design. It is approached from a winding wooden deck, echoing the rhythmic form of Richard Serra’s Passage of Time. As one nears the pavilion, the turns become more frequent, offering varying glimpses of the pavilion through the columns of the pine forest trunks and the pavilion façade.

This park will also serve as an event space, offering breathtaking views of the wetlands and winding hiking trails, promoting the environment’s natural beauty. It will boast a 17,000-square-foot sculpture pavilion to host lectures, special events, versatile gallery space, and more. This park will have endless opportunities for all, including amenities such as a reception area, a 20,000-square-foot event space, a rest pavilion, visitor parking, and more.

With the addition of Longleaf Art Park and all the other amenities offered, the Watersound Origins community and Northwest Florida coastal area will present a vibrant, inclusive space for anyone who values outdoor living, the beauty of nature, and an appreciation for world-class art. Longleaf Art Park will create a shared experience for the community to come together, celebrate art, and create lasting memories.

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To learn more about Watersound Origins and Longleaf Art Park, visit WatersoundOrigins.com/lifestyle/longleaf-art-park and follow @watersoundorigins on Instagram. Learn more about BCF and its many programs at BerkowitzContemporaryFoundation.com.

Talking Longleaf Art Park with Chloe Berkowitz

Founder & President of Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation

Interview by Lisa Marie Burwell and Jordan Staggs

VIE: How did the Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation (BCF) come to life? What was the impetus for you starting it?

Chloe Berkowitz: The works that interest me most are monumental and experiential. After collecting a few of these pieces, it became evident they were too important to keep behind closed doors. Thus, in 2013, I created my family’s art foundation, Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation (BCF for short), and used those first few significant works as a starting point for the collection.

VIE: What is BCF’s mission? How will you integrate that into your projects in our region?

CB: At BCF, we champion the inspirational, informative, and inclusive effects that art can have on a community, especially when it’s exhibited publicly and paired with immersive programming. This thinking led us to our largest initiative yet, Longleaf Art Park, located in the 30-A region. Integrating Longleaf Art Park into the community is only possible with the support and guidance from our partners, the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County. BCF and CAA will collaborate on the long-term programming of the park, and CAA will manage the day-to-day activities. Through the development of Longleaf Art Park and partnering with the CAA, we will unlock the true creative potential of the community.

VIE: Please expound upon your love and knowledge of art and how art brings a community together. Is this modeled after something you’ve seen in your global travels?

CB: I’ve had a twenty-year-long love affair with art. I’ve studied, created, supported, and collected it. Art has played a significant role in my life, shaping how I approach every aspect and situation. I believe that art was the first universal language, leading back to almost 20,000 years ago with the cave paintings of Lascaux. Art gives us this incredible ability to tell stories without the necessity of written language and, in that sense, allows us to create that astonishing connection across many cultures and communities. Art is not necessarily about agreeing about what is in front of you but being able to share that introspective moment.

During my travels, I have always been inspired by great outdoor art parks, such as the Louisiana Museum in Denmark, the Ekebergparken Sculpture Park in Norway, and the Dia Art Foundation in New York. They have figured out a seamless existence of art and nature; that said, I have a long list of places I want to visit!

VIE: When did you first connect to the 30-A area, and what do you love most about it?

CB: I was made aware of the area about six years ago and was immediately impressed with the vast forestry, beautiful beaches, and kind people. The more time I spend here, the more connected I feel to the community. Walton County is ideal for this project because we had the opportunity to create something beyond our wildest dreams. We previously had ideas for something with a smaller footprint elsewhere, but when we were given the chance to transform fifteen acres here in Walton County, the obvious answer was “Yes. We envision Longleaf Art Park as a world-class arts destination for locals and visitors alike, so having the space to create something more thoughtful and impactful is a huge win. I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that the community has been so supportive from the beginning, and I can’t express how much that means to me and my family.

VIE: Who are some artists whose work will be displayed in addition to the centerpiece by the late Richard Serra?

CB: Richard Serra’s Passage of Time will anchor the project’s first stage. Still, as the park evolves, we plan to incorporate more of BCF’s diverse permanent collection and rotating exhibitions. Some artists currently in the permanent collection include James Turrell, Anish Kapoor, Keith Haring, Rashid Johnson, and many more.

VIE: Why did Serra’s sculpture stand out as the perfect anchor for this park?

CB: We had a close working relationship with Richard Serra. When we presented him with the idea of Longleaf Art Park, he was enthusiastic enough about the project and its location that he helped us make critical choices in its development, so we felt it was natural to unveil the park with his contemplative work as the focal point.

VIE: Are there any other projects the foundation is working on that you’d like to share with our readers?

CB: I’m most excited about the other projects we’re working on with Jennifer Steele and her team at CAA! BCF also works closely and supports other organizations across the United States, including Dia Art Foundation, Young Arts, and The Bass Museum, to name a few, as well as creating means of artist aid programs and loaning pieces of our collections to other institutions that align with our vision.

VIE: How can people participate in the foundation’s mission?

CB: We hope to see the faces of this community when the park opens and as we continue to roll out different programs. In the meantime, go out and support local! CAA continues to do incredible exhibitions and shows.

Like all BCF programs, Longleaf Art Park will be free and open to the public. Stay tuned for details on the art park’s opening in early 2026 and other projects!

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