Pensacola looks to partner with Conservation Florida to find funding for Bay Bluffs Park

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves is looking to partner with Conservation Florida to preserve Bay Bluffs Park and find funding opportunities to restore public access to the park.

During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Reeves said he has a meeting with Conservation Florida on Oct. 19 to discuss the issue.

Conservation Florida is a non-profit dedicated to preserving land throughout the state.

Reeves said there's been misinformation on social media that the city is looking to sell off the park to private developers.

"I would resign the day that we sell Bay Bluffs Park," Reeves said. "That (misinformation) comes from no research. We want to protect it. We think that kind of conservation will help us get grant funding. And we can start to look at what bright future options are.

Bluffs history: Pensacola Bay Bluffs Park has been a point of pride (and a source of problems) for 40 years

Last month, Reeves announced that the park, which has been closed since March, will remain closed indefinitely as the city seeks assessments to remove the nearly 40-year-old boardwalk and find money to replace it. Reeves said much of the park's boardwalk likely has to be removed because the wooden structural supports are rotten. Current estimates to remove and replace the boardwalk are more than $1 million, according to the mayor.

Reeves said he hopes a partnership with Conservation Florida will open the park up for more grant opportunities to fund access at the park.

Bay Bluffs Park is situated on nearly 59 acres, with the boardwalk built on a city-owned parcel of 25 acres. Other parcels along the Bluffs are already state-owned conservation land that is managed by the city.

Troy Moon: Bay Bluffs is where we go adventurin'. Park perfect for little boys, dogs and grandpas.

Reeves said the city would still retain ownership of the city-owned land, but the idea would be to enter into an agreement with Conservation Florida that ensures the property is preserved in perpetuity as conservation land.

"Our intent is to keep it − no matter what form − whether it's got boardwalks or it's trails or whatever the case may be − that this continues to stay part of the inventory of the city," Reeves said. "And that this is a natural resource and something that stays with our children and our grandchildren for years to come."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola in talks with Conservation Florida on Bay Bluffs Park