Posted in Business, Caring, Education, Escambia County, News, Pensacola, Politics

Real News: Input sought on beach parking, mental health

   May 8, 2023

This morning, Commissioner Robert Bender and ECT executive Tammy Greer made appeals for public input on two significant issues.

Why this matters – Part 1: For years, Pensacola Beach businesses and residents have sought solutions to the traffic congestion during the summer months. Commissioner Bender believes it’s time to discuss building a parking garage on Casino Beach.

  • In 2018, the Board of County Commissioners rejected a $20-million roundabout at the intersection of Via de Luna and Fort Pickens Road, after spending $600,000 on engineering studies.
  • In 2020, Bender spearheaded the effort to make the toll booth on to Pensacola Beach cashless. We’ve experienced few traffic jams since the move.
  • On WCOA, the commissioner said, “I think traffic, pedestrians and parking are the three-legged stool out there on Pensacola Beach. Next Monday, a week from today, at 5:30 at the Pensacola Beach Community Church, we’ll be having a town hall out there with on having a parking garage in the Casino Beach parking lot.” – He is looking to build a two-story parking garage on that site.

Why this matters – Part 2: The Escambia Children’s Trust has budgeted $3.3 million for mental services, primarily for children in pockets of poverty. The board wants public input on the RFP.

  • The RFP will focus on services being provided in the communities of Century and the 32501 and 32505 zip codes.
  • On WCOA, Executive Director Tammy Greer explained, “They are service deserts, basically. And we would really like to have folks who are from those communities, who know the communities, who represent the communities leading this initiative because you talk to different people in different ways, and we want someone that the communities identify with.”

Dig Deeper:

County Commissioner Robert Bender will host a town hall at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15, at the Pensacola Beach Community Church, 920 Panferio Drive.  He plans to discuss building a parking garage at Casino Beach.

The Escambia Children’s Trust has budgeted $3.3 million for mental health services in the Century area and the  32501 and 32505 zip codes. Executive Director Tammy Greer and her board are seeking public input on the Request for Proposals.

And the full show:

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