Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Residents warn CRA that Glenwood community garden could be harmed by MLK/15th redevelopment; board hears concerns
Loading...
Summary
Residents at the Panama City CRA meeting said plans for the Fifteenth and MLK redevelopment risk undermining a community garden at Henry Davis Park. Speakers asked the CRA to respect community-led planning, preserve historical character and prioritize neighborhood needs when negotiating redevelopment.
Residents told the Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday that a community garden at Henry Davis Park, created after three years of local advocacy, could be harmed by broader redevelopment plans around the MLK and 15th Street project.
Brenda Lewis Williams, who identified herself as a resident at 1007 North Center Avenue, said the garden was the product of three years of community effort and expressed concern that CRA project communications and media coverage about the Fifteenth and MLK project had been “diametrically opposed” to what neighborhood stakeholders had been told. “It is rather obvious that the input from the invested citizens in Dover coal has fallen on deaf ears of our elected officials,” Williams told the board.
Board members and staff response: Staff and board members did not commit to removing or relocating the garden. The CRA said the Henry Davis Park improvements project (budgeted at $125,000) will include improvements completed in-house and that a coordination meeting with departments was scheduled for May 9 to plan garden-specific improvements such as shade sails, a pavilion and an interactive learning path. Staff also said a Kiwanis-sponsored playground is planned and that a new park sign may be included if the budget allows.
Why it matters: Residents framed the garden as a neighborhood-led success and asked that redevelopment planning respect prior community processes (including Dover Coal dialogues) and the historical nature of Ward 2. Speakers urged that Glenwood receive equitable attention for infrastructure and small-business support relative to other wards.
What was not decided: No board action to relocate, remove or change the garden was taken. Staff said improvements at Henry Davis Park remain in the planning stage and will be coordinated across departments; budgeted funds for the park are $125,000 with $0 expended to date.
Next steps: Staff will hold the May 9 coordination meeting and return with details on planned park improvements and budget allocation as part of the Henry Davis Park item.
