'A world-class facility': Frank Brown Park a boon to the Panama City Beach economy

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·3 min read

PANAMA CITY BEACH — For Cheryl Joyner, Frank Brown Park is a "top-notch sports facility" that stands out on the Beach.

As interim parks and recreation director for Panama City Beach, Joyner said the park, which is along Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road) near Pier Park, is a crucial asset for the city that attracts thousands of tourists each year.

"We have, I believe, a world-class facility," Joyner said. "We just want to continue to grow (the park) and continue to serve our community and our visitors. ... The rule of parks and recreation is quality of life (and) providing a safe and affordable facility for the community to have active recreation."

Located along Panama City Beach Parkway, Frank Brown Park is a crucial asset for Panama City Beach that boosts the economy and attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Located along Panama City Beach Parkway, Frank Brown Park is a crucial asset for Panama City Beach that boosts the economy and attracts thousands of tourists each year.

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Though Frank Brown Park is one of two major sports complexes in the Panama City Beach area — the other being Publix Sports Park off Chip Seal Parkway — it is the only one technically within the city's limits.

Because of this, money generated by Frank Brown Park directly supports PCB's general fund. It, like Publix Sports Park, also indirectly finances the fund by attracting tourists to PCB who pay the city's 1% business tax.

Frank Brown Park also is the site for multiple largescale, nonsporting events, including the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam and Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally. 

Debbie Ingram, spokesperson for PCB, noted that of the Beach's more than $76 million general fund proposed for fiscal 2023, which the City Council will vote on at a meeting in September, $470,500 was generated solely by the park.

"These tournaments and concerts and other special events bring an enormous number of visitors to our city," Ingram wrote in an email. "Everyone coming to an event at the park, whether local ... or from across the country, contributes to our 1% business tax by all the purchases they make while they are here.

"Those people are here because of activities at Frank Brown Park."

In addition to ball fields and festival grounds, the park boasts an aquatic center with a lap pool, dog parks, walking trails, a fishing pond and tennis courts, said Phil Chester, a member of the City Council.

"Parks are an essential part of our public service, just like water, sewer and public safety," Chester wrote in an email.

According to Panama City Beach, more than a dozen sporting events already are scheduled at the park for the rest of 2022. They are:

  • World Series League Fastpitch Association softball tournament from Aug. 27-28

  • World Series League Softball tournament from Sept. 8-11

  • World Series League Softball tournament from Sept. 15-28

  • World Series League Softball tournament from Sept. 23-25

  • United States Fastpitch Association softball tournament from Sept. 24-25

  • United States Specialty Sports Association softball tournament from from Oct. 8-9

  • Travel Ball USA baseball tournament from Oct. 15-16

  • Softball Players Association tournament from Oct. 29-30

  • Super Draft tournament from Nov. 3-6

  • World Sports League Softball tournament from Nov. 11-13

  • United States Fastpitch Association softball tournament from Nov. 19-20

  • United States Fastpitch Association softball tournament from Dec. 17-18

  • Game Day USA softball tournament from Dec. 26-29

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Frank Brown Park boosts Panama City Beach economy, attracts tourists