The Hollice T. Williams Greenway Framework Plan is one of Pensacola’s more exciting projects that always seems to fly under the radar, especially now that the Blake Doyle Skate Park is completed, which was phase one of the plan.
During his “State of the City” address earlier this month, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves spoke about the future of what he called “The Lost Neighborhood,” a minority neighborhood displaced by the construction of Interstate 110 in the late 1960s and early ‘70s that was located at the site of the project.
Since 2004, the city of Pensacola and Escambia County have worked toward putting into place a plan that would upgrade the park under I-110, transforming it into a greenway with walking paths, new park amenities and a new stormwater treatment system.
Pensacola 'State of the City'
The 1.3-mile corridor would also feature several cultural exhibits scattered throughout that paid homage to the lost neighborhood by including the footprints of the original home site locations, historical images, sculptural artwork based on the themes of civil rights, murals celebrating the surrounding neighborhood’s character and more.
While the project has taken decades to come together, the city and county still have work to do regarding securing funding, and groundbreaking is still years away. Here’s what to know about the plan.
What is the Hollice T. Williams plan?
The Hollice T. Williams Park project will help address flooding in downtown Pensacola but also looks to reconnect and restore vibrancy to the historically Black and working-class neighborhoods that were split apart by the construction of I-110 in the 1970s.
The entire design, which is a joint effort with the city and Escambia County, will include sporting fields, an amphitheater, walking and biking trails, the public pool that already stands on the property, the skate park and green spaces.
The Blake Doyle Skatepark is part of the overall vision of the park and was completed this year. The skate park was just phase one of the plan.
Here’s what the Hollice T. Williams plan will bring once complete
There are three main parts to the Hollice T Williams plan: The Blake Doyle Skatepark, the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater project and the Hollice T. Williams Park.
Blake Doyle Skatepark
The first phase of the plan was completed after the Blake Doyle Skatepark officially opened in May. The nearly $2.2 million skate park broke ground on Aug. 2 of last year between Jackson and La Rua streets next to From The Ground Up Community Garden.
It’s modeled after the iconicWest L.A. Courthouse Skate Plazain Los Angeles that became a popular spot for skaters because its ledges were perfect for skateboarders to grind and slide on. The Pensacola park includes a beginner's area for those new to skateboarding, a multilevel skate plaza, two skate bowls and sidewalks going around the skate area.
Hollice T. Williams park
The second phase of the project will bring significant improvements to both the Hollice T. Williams and introduce stormwater features. The park will feature passive, active and community gathering spaces that serve people of all ages.
Private and nonprofit partners are working with the city to bring a community garden, an amphitheater, early-learning opportunities and more. Here’s a bigger look at what’s coming:
- Gateways
- Park seating
- Splash pad
- Community garden
- Multi-use paths
- Decorative lightning
- Early learning features
- Passive gathering areas
- Dual-use competition skate park facility and amphitheater
- Athletic fields
- Art and sculptures
Blake Doyle Skatepark opens:After eight years of grinding, generations of skateboarders enjoy Pensacola's new skate park
Hollice T. Williams stormwater
In addition to the park and greenway features, the Hollice T. Williams plan will incorporate stormwater mitigation features similar to Tallahassee’s Cascades Park, which will provide relief for many flood-prone neighborhoods near the park.
Those features include a network of underground channels, open streams and pods designed to provide both flood protection and treatment of run-off during intense storms.
The Hollice T. Williams stormwater/recreation basins will maximize the use of public lands to manage large run-off volumes generated quickly during storm events. Dual use dry ponds which double as youth athletic and passive fields.
Where is the Hollice T. Williams park?
Hollice T. Williams greenway and stormwater park is located underneath Interstate 110, near the new Pensacola skate park.
The 'Lost Neighborhood'
Today, the only thing that documents the history of the neighborhoods is a metal marker next to a concrete pillar that supports I-110 on East Jordan Street that dubs the area "The Lost Neighborhood."
Pensacola City Councilwoman Teniadé Broughton knows the area well. Her family members bought a home in the 1870s that stayed in the family until it was demolished to make way for the interstate.
Broughton, also a local historian, has been working with the University of Florida to document oral histories of the neighborhood.
Broughton said she is thrilled the city won the funding and hopes whatever changes are made to the project will help restore some of what was lost.
"The community has to be the greatest beneficiary of whatever is put there," Broughton previously told the News Journal. "… What can we do to boost the impact, economically and socially."
Brought said she'd like to see opportunities for local business owners to use the area, such as food trucks or an outdoor market.
Reeves said the interstate cut through 18 city blocks and dissected a historically minority neighborhood, and its commercial core has never recovered.
"When you talk about generational opportunity, this is the city's chance to reconnect this lost neighborhood and make it a gathering place for all," Reeves said.
