The City of Pensacola has secured $5 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program for the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park Underdeck and Community Connector Project. This initiative aims to transform the area beneath Interstate 110, eliminating an urban barrier and connecting the Eastside neighborhood with surrounding areas.
“We have a vision of what the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park can become,” says Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves. “This is the first money we can use to make this more than a stormwater collection system. This enables us to connect the surrounding neighborhoods in a transformational way.”
The ambitious project encompasses a 1.7-acre multi-modal pathway network and 9 acres of public open space. Plans include a multiuse trail and Class I bicycle path linking North Palafox Street to the park, designed to provide safe, direct access to jobs, resources, and local destinations.
The successful grant proposal was a collaborative effort by the Community Redevelopment Agency team, including urban design planner Rachel Bennett, transportation planner Caitlin Cerame, environmental coordinator Katherine Kuhn, and senior grant writer Joel Hollon.
More details about the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park Project are available at htwpensacola.com.
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