Mayor D.C. Reeves has rescheduled the second public engagement meeting for the Fricker Resource Center Renovation Project to 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Why? The mayor cited:
- the need for additional time to review feedback from the previous meeting,
- along with the building’s environmental issues, and
- the desire to receive daytime input from older members of the community who may not be able to attend another evening meeting.
“We thought we were under limiting factors of the Florida Commerce grant to have both meetings complete by Aug. 1,” Mayor Reeves said. “But, due to the condition of the building, we were able to receive an extension on the second public engagement meeting.”
The City of Pensacola invites residents to help shape the future of the Fricker Resource Center by participating in two upcoming public engagement meetings for the Fricker Resource Center Renovation Project.
Meeting Details:
- Dates: Wednesday, Aug. 13
- Time: 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
- Location: Fricker Resource Center, 900 N. F St.
Background: The first meeting on July 23 quickly turned into a heated confrontation as over 100 Black community members voiced years of frustration with Mayor D.C. Reeves’ administration.
Mayor Reeves was conspicuously absent from the proceedings, leaving Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Tonya Byrd as the highest-ranking city official present. This absence became a lightning rod for community anger.
“I want to express my concern and disappointment that the mayor isn’t here,” said Gerald Graham during his remarks. “Gentrification has taken over this city, and people are being pushed out.”
Speaker after speaker abandoned the meeting’s intended focus on facility improvements to instead lambast city leadership. Jonathan Green delivered a nearly three-minute speech criticizing the mayor for bragging about million-dollar homes while poverty persists in Black neighborhoods.
Green also questioned the meeting’s organization, noting the lack of a formal agenda contributed to “inflamed passions because of the history this city has shown us.”
The $9.5 million grant was intended to fund stormwater improvements, enhanced building visibility, and renovations to bathrooms, hallways and classrooms ($5.5 million), with the remaining $4 million designated for multi-purpose programs. Community members who did address facility needs recommended adding meeting spaces and improving accessibility for disabled individuals.
The unexpected turn of events has forced city officials to reconsider their approach. “We’re probably going to have to go back and have some discussions about the goals for the next meeting,” Byrd acknowledged. “This changes our game plan a little bit.”
Beyond facility improvements, community members expressed suspicion about the city’s motives. Graham questioned why the city would suddenly invest $9.5 million in Black neighborhoods, suggesting “something else is coming behind it as an ulterior motive.”
STILL SEEKING INPUT
Community input is essential to this project’s success. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their ideas and provide feedback on the types of programs and services they believe are most important to the community. The meetings will be interactive, family-friendly and open to all.
“We’re building more than just a facility — we’re building a space that reflects the heart and aspirations of this community,” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. “That’s why your voice matters, and why it is essential to shaping Fricker’s future.”
The Fricker Resource Center renovation is part of Mayor Reeves’ Direction ’25: Pensacola Parks Revitalization Project, an investment of $21.7 million focused on repairing and maintaining city parks and facilities throughout the city’s seven districts.
