From Clark Thompson:
In 1997 a group of volunteers from Pensacola’s Clean Community Commission, aka Clean & Green, selected a section of Bayfront Parkway known as Hawkshaw Lagoon which lies immediately south of Veterans Memorial Park for general clean-up.
While there, we observed this man-made lagoon flourishing with various species of waterfowl and sea life. The peacefulness of the inlet subsequently led to discussions regarding how the lagoon could be made and kept more attractive for enjoyment of the general public.
Local resident Kathy Gaut, one of the clean-up volunteers who had a missing daughter, suggested building a memorial to all missing children.
A subsequent $1,000,000 fundraising campaign, with support from various businesses, local governments, and civic groups allowed for the construction of the single-span bridge across the lagoon and a platform to house the bronze memorial created by local artist Sam Nettles.
In 2004, following damage to the site by Hurricane Ivan, the City of Pensacola offered to take over and maintain the site in the same manner as other city parks, monuments, and memorials. Unfortunately that commitment has been woefully lacking. The bridge continues to experience severe rusting, broken light fixtures, and damaged outlets, while vagrants freely trash the area on, under, and around the memorial platform itself.
The attached articles from 2017 and 2018 highlighted some of the issues which still have not been addressed, even after promises by City Council members to do so. Sadly, the memorial site is now in worse shape than at the time of the referenced story.
https://ricksblog.biz/hawkshaw-lagoon-the-forgotten-national-monument-of-pensacola/
On Friday, April 21, 2023, another site visit (including previous board member and original design architect Scott Holland) was made to assess ongoing deterioration. Pictures are attached from said visit. Despite the City’s earlier promises to maintain the site using standards applied to its other parks, monuments, and memorials, the continued neglect will now make restoration far more expensive. The only evidence of the City’s presence are two small plastic signs at the entrance saying “Open at sunrise, closed at sundown” and an overflowing trash can next to them.
It is our hope that bringing further media attention to this situation might encourage the City to address this sad state of affairs.
Clark Thompson
Past board member of Hawkshaw Lagoon Missing Children’s Memorial
