Open main menu

Changes

Community Maritime Park

3,613 bytes added, 15:38, 14 April 2007
no edit summary
|mapcode=
}}
The '''Vince Whibbs, Sr. Community Maritime Park''' (often abbreviated to '''Whibbs Park''', '''Community Maritime Park''' or '''CMP''') is a project planned to occupy the 30-acre [[Trilliumproperty]] property on Pensacola's waterfront. It was developed by the [[Community Maritime Park Associates]](CMPA), initially comprised of Vice Admiral [[Jack Fetterman]], [[UWF]] President [[John Cavanaugh]] and [[Pensacola Pelicans]] owner [[Quint Studer]]. After the death of Admiral Fetterman, the third principal position was filled by Mayor Emeritus [[Vince Whibbs]]. , after whose death the position was again filled by Judge [[Lacey Collier]].  The plan, refined in public focus groups by urban planner [[Ray Gindroz]], includes a [[maritime museum]] and research center, a "multi-use" stadium for the Pelicans, a conference center, university classrooms, a large public lawn and concert shell, mixed-use commercial space and other amenities. On [[January 18]], [[2005]], the [[Pensacola City Council]] approved the plan by an 8-1 vote. Shortly thereafter, the political action group [[Save Our City]], led by [[Charles Fairchild]] and dissenting city councilman [[Marty Donovan]], started a petition to force a city referendum on the issue, hoping to overturn the council's decision. After a long and divisive campaign by both sides, the plan was approved by the voters of Pensacola on [[September 5]], [[2006]]. The twelve-person [[Community Maritime Park Associates]] board of trustees was selected both by the CMPA principals and by the [[Pensacola City Council]]. On [[April 13]], [[2007]], the board selected the architectural firm [[Caldwell Associates]], which had been involved in preliminary development, as its top choice to write the final design criteria.
==Plan Details==
[[Image:CMP-OverheadDiagram.jpg|thumb|right|Diagram of the proposed park]]{{sectstub}}===Multi-use Stadium===One of the largest (and most criticized) elements of the park is the stadium that will serve primarily as a home ballpark for the Studer-owned [[Pensacola Pelicans]]. When not in use, the outfield walls can be removed to connect the space with the waterfront concert green.
===MultiPark proponents argue that the 3,500-seat stadiums can be used for a number of outdoor activities, including concerts, graduation ceremonies and other sporting events, but critics dispute its "multi-use Stadium===" capabilities.
===Maritime Museum===
:''Main article: [[Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center]]''
The western side of the property will feature a 50,000 square foot maritime museum and research center. Conceived by the late Vice Admiral [[Jack Fetterman]], for whom it was later named, the $18 million museum will be funded half by private donations and half by the State of Florida's Alec P. Courtelis Matching Gift Program.
 
The museum's interactive, educational displays will showcase artifacts from Pensacola's maritime history. The [[University of West Florida]] will operate active research facilities in the areas of public history, underwater archaeology, marine biology and environmental science.
===University Classrooms & Conference Center===
===Public Green Space & Waterfront Access===
[[Image:CMP-GreenRendering.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A path along the ballpark's outfield wall connects to the waterfront concert green.]]
===Mixed-use Commercial Space===
[[Image:CMP-WharfRendering.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Rendering of the shops and restaurants along the De Villiers Street Wharf.]]
 
===Other Features===
[[Image:CMP-SpringStRendering.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Aerial rendering of the Park's Spring Street entrance and the property's eastern features.]]
==Background and Timeline==
{{sectstub}}The 30-acre [[Trillium property]], a peninsular lot south of [[Main Street]] roughly between [[Spring Street|Spring]] and [[De Villiers Street]]s, had been purchased by the [[City of Pensacola]] for $3.63 million on [[March 28]], [[2000]]. On [[May 31]], [[2001]], a [[Festival Park]] project was proposed by [[Bullock Tice Associates]] to occupy the site. The $40 million plan, which included a 16-acre public park, an $18 million auditorium (to replace the aging [[Bayfront Auditorium]] on [[Palafox Street]]) and space for future development, was approved by the [[Pensacola City Council]] on [[November 21]], [[2002]]. Initial work had already begun, including a massive concrete group called [[Citizens Against Trillium]] (which included [[Charles Fairchild]]) petitioned for a referendum on the project. On [[March 25]], [[2003]] the citizens of Pensacola voted to overturn the Council's decision and scrap the plan. In late [[2004]], months after [[Hurricane Ivan]] devastated the Pensacola area, city leaders including City Manager [[Tom Bonfield]] and Mayor [[John Fogg]] met with [[Admiral Fetterman]] and others to discuss ideas about a possible "maritime park" project for the Trillium site. The [[Community Maritime Park Associates]] was formed and presented a preliminary proposal to the [[Pensacola City Council]], which approved the concept on [[January 18]], [[2005]].
==Criticisms and Response==
==Referendum==
{{sectstub}}
 
==Development==
{{sectstub}}
==External Links==
*[http://www.ci.pensacola.fl.us/live/pages.asp?pageID=6112 City of Pensacola website] - Official documents and CMPA Board minutes/agendas*[http://www.propensacola.com ProPensacola.com]*[http://uwf.edu/maritime/ UWF site for the Maritime Museum]
{{Comm-stub}}
[[Category:Community Maritime Park]]