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Navy Point residents press commissioners to protect linear park; cite 1944 covenant and oppose development
Summary
Multiple Navy Point residents asked the Escambia County Commission to adopt an ordinance or other measures to preserve Navy Point Linear Park’s public parkland and tree canopy, citing an original 1944 dedication and covenant prohibiting structures; commissioners said staff would review options but made no formal commitment to an ordinance.
Longtime residents of the Navy Point neighborhood urged the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 2 to enact protections for Navy Point Linear Park, which they said was dedicated to the public in 1944 and includes a 2.25-mile waterfront walking path.
Why it matters: Residents said Navy Point Linear Park is a unique public asset — a tree‑shaded peninsula offering continuous waterfront access — and should be protected from redevelopment, encroachment and tree removal. They cited a 1944 dedication and covenant that, they said, prohibits permanent structures on the park land.
Speakers and claims: Ted Hawthorne, who identified himself as president of the Navy Point Neighborhood Watch, described the park as "a rare gem" and asked the board to "pass an ordinance that permanently safeguards Navy Point Linear Park from redevelopment, encroachment, or habitat loss." Longtime residents Pat Page, Rhonda Eubanks and others recounted family histories in the neighborhood and said the original plat dedications and covenants require that the park remain free of permanent structures.
Residents asked the board to preserve mature trees and to stop any proposals that could lead to boat houses, wharves or similar construction. Several speakers said prior confusion about legal language and county memoranda led to neighborhood divisions and asked for a clear, formal county commitment.
Board response and next steps: Board members and the county administrator said they heard the concerns and would work with legal staff. One commissioner said he would meet with staff and neighborhood representatives and that "it's not gonna happen on Navy Point Park" in the near term; no ordinance vote or adoption occurred at the Oct. 2 meeting.
What was not decided: The board did not adopt an ordinance, nor did it direct staff to return a draft ordinance for a vote. Commissioners asked staff to review the plat language, covenants and county legal position and to bring back options for protecting the park.
Ending: Residents left the meeting urging a formal, permanent safeguard for Navy Point Linear Park. County officials acknowledged the historical dedication and said they would study legal options and discuss next steps with neighborhood leaders.
