Building better communities through play


  • October 7, 2015
  • /   Shannon Nickinson
  • /   community-dashboard

Children play at the all-inclusive playground at the Navarre Sports Complex designed for children meeting the requirements,br/> of the American with Disabilities Act Monday, August 3, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is investing $200,000 to improve recreational opportunities in Century, Navarre and Milton.

The money comes in the form of grants for $50,000 each from the state’s Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. The program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds.

These projects will help improve the quality of life in those communities by creating safe spaces for people and families to get exercise and play together. Investing in wellness resources will help communities and families be healthier, more attractive places to invest and live in.

That is particularly important in the Pensacola Metro area, where, according to the Studer Community Institute Dashboard, nearly 60 percent of residents are overweight or obese. The cost of dealing with the health care impacts of that statistic impacts local businesses.

The Partnership for a Healthy Community said in 2013 smoking and obesity cost companies in the two-county area $800 million in health care expenses.

— The Town of Century will replace the splash pad at Buck Showalter Park.

— The City of Milton got two grants: one to renovate the picnic pavilion, basketball court and restrooms at Lucille Johnson Park; one to build a playground and renovate the fishing pier and restroom at Carpenter’s Park.

— Navarre’s grant will go toward developing a kayak launch and pathway, picnic facility and shade structure and to renovate the playground and basketball court at Navarre Park.

The grants are part of DEP’s $5.4 million in 110 recreational development projects statewide.

“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is committed to funding projects that directly benefit natural resources and local communities,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “This grant funding will support projects such as athletic fields, picnic facilities, fishing piers and playgrounds – projects that provide taxpayers additional recreational opportunities.”

Through the end of November, the department will present ceremonial checks to municipalities and counties across the state.

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