Panama City outlines nearly $4 million in parks upgrades, new park and tree plantings

Jonathan Hayes said Panama City has nearly $4,000,000 in ongoing and recently completed parks improvements across the city, funded by a mix of grants, Community Redevelopment Agency funds, HUD dollars and city investment. "Work is ongoing at Daffin Park with more improvements on the way, including field lighting installation," he said, and noted Bay Memorial Park already has tree plantings and a completed walking trail.

Hayes said the city will install new exercise equipment and benches at Bay Memorial Park this summer to make the space more usable. He added that improvements to athletic fields continue, and under the East Side grant more than 600 trees have been planted across the East Side of Panama City, which he described as "an investment in both beauty and long-term resiliency." The garden club building, completed last year, will soon reopen for rentals, and Hayes said an unnamed park referenced in the update is scheduled for completion by early February.

On neighborhood parks, Hayes highlighted Joe Moody Harris Park as a nearly $1,500,000 project jointly funded by the city and a state grant, with construction scheduled to begin later this spring. He framed these investments as part of a broader push to revitalize neighborhoods and improve recreational access.

The city has combined multiple funding sources to advance park projects; Hayes cited grants, CRA funds and HUD dollars alongside city funds. The updates are part of the administration’s ongoing capital program and are intended to expand recreational amenities and resilience in neighborhoods across Panama City.

Hayes closed by inviting residents to stay engaged as projects move forward and said the city will provide timelines and updates on a dedicated projects web page.