City to celebrate Bruce Beach public access on Saturday

On Saturday, November 3, community members and organizations will come together to celebrate the grand opening of Bruce Beach.

Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward directed City staff to begin the process of creating public access to the site in August. It has his goal before leaving office to make the historical waterfront a place people could not only visit, but see from Main Street.

City staff worked with Opening Doors Northwest Florida (formerly Escarose Coalition on the Homeless) to provide resources and information to the people who were illegally camping in the area. The City also partnered with environmental and archaeological groups to make sure the landscape and history of the site was preserved.

Clean up at the site began at the beginning of October. Crews had to clear overgrowth, pick up trash, and create a road to the waterfront. From there, they installed lights in the dirt parking lot, created a handicap parking spot, installed a fence around the property, put in benches and built an overlook. Signage detailing the history of the site will be added to property.

During segregation, Bruce Beach was home to a community pool for African Americans. The pool opened in June 1956 at the foot of Coyle and Main Streets in the Tanyard Neighborhood. The pool served as a safe place for youths and adults to interact, take swim lessons and host events . It was a source of pride and accomplishment for the black community. However, the pool had to close December 1975 because no one could come up with the money for necessary upgrades. The site has been unused ever since then.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the Bruce Beach Inaugural Paddle Fest. The event begins at 9 a.m. and is brought to you by City of Pensacola, CivicCon, Keep Pensacola Beautiful, A&J Mug Shop, Pensacola Young Professionals, Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, Salz Studio and Outdoor Gulf Coast.

For more information, visit the official event page on Facebook.

Quint Studer, Rep. Clay Ingram, Mayor Ashton Hayward and Cox Market Vice President David Deliman

Gigabit internet arrives in Pensacola

Pensacola can officially say it is a "Gig City."

On Tuesday, Cox Communications announced the arrival of 1 gigabit internet to the area. Cox Market Vice President David Deliman said "Gigablast" will offer 1000 megabits per second of broadband internet. It allows Cox customers to download a video game in less than a minute or 100 albums within 44 seconds.

Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward said the availability of gigabit internet in Pensacola will have a tremendous impact on the community and bring us to the forefront of technology.

"People's expectations have gotten higher and they want this speed faster, quicker," Mayor Hayward said. "Having that connectivity with Cox is very important to create that smart city, that smart county."

Hayward also said that one of the amazing things about gaining access to gig speed internet was that most of the technical work was completed without disruption of yards or streets in our community.

Congratulations to our Employee of the Month!

Carter Mansfield, Pensacola International Airport

City employees recognized at Salute to First Responders event

Pensacola Police officers and Pensacola firefighters were recognized Wednesday at the Salute to First Responders luncheon.

The event, put on by Be Ready Alliance Coordinating For Emergencies (BRACE), was a way to honor the people who answer the call to help. Firefighters, police, troopers, EMS and other public safety employees from organizations within Escambia County were acknowledged.

Officer Kylan Osley with the Pensacola Police Department received a First Responder award.

Firefighter Willie Pope and Captain Jose Cobb with the Pensacola Fire Department also received awards.

We would like to thank our first responders for all that they do to keep us safe!

Reminder: Friday is the ribbon cutting ceremony for Bill Gregory Park

Mayor Ashton Hayward and the City of Pensacola invite you to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Bill Gregory Park Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

The Bill Gregory Park Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility features a two-tier treatment train system which will remove debris and contaminants from previously untreated stormwater runoff from 37 acres of highly-populated subdivisions and businesses before it enters into Bayou Chico. The ecologically-enhanced detention pond is 2.5 acres and is now home to a variety of plants, birds, and other aquatic animal species.

RSTC junior tennis director named Florida Volunteer of the Month by USTA

United States Tennis Association has named Rita Dotson the Florida Volunteer of the Month for October.

Dotson has 18 years of tennis volunteering under her belt. She is the director of junior tennis at the Roger Scott Tennis Center. She was also instrumental in City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department's 5210 Northwest Florida Day of Play.

“Rita’s attitude in our community is phenomenal,” Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward said at the award presentation during the Pensacola Futures pro event. “Wherever I see you, Rita, you’re smiling, and touching someone’s life — and you’re selfless. Thank you for your selfless service.”

Doston runs the local non-profit, Tennis-4-Everyone and provides tutoring at Fricker Resource Center.

Read the full article on Dotson on USTA's website.

Looking for something to do? Foo Foo Fest has begun in downtown Pensacola

From now until November 12, downtown Pensacola will play host to culturally creative happenings, events and moments for this year’s Foo Foo Fest.

Foo Foo Fest in an annual event that was started by Arts, Culture and Entertainment, Inc (ACE) as an effort to bring tourists to the Pensacola area during the typical off-season.

Event goers can expect artist talks, culinary treats, dancing, music, sports, theater shows and visual arts. Some events are free, others require a ticket.

For a complete list of events and information about Foo Foo Fest, visit their website.

INSTAGRAM: Photo of the Week

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Photo Credit: @leehousepensacola