Pensacola mulls RESTORE marina

The City of Pensacola is seeking $2.1 million in RESTORE funds – monies owed Gulf Coast states following litigation against BP for the Deep Water Horizon oil spill - for a 48-slip, day-use marina at Community Maritime Park downtown. The draft application is expected to be submitted by Sept. 29. If awarded, the money the funds could be available by 2017. It should take less than a year to build and remove underwater debris posing potential navigation hazards. “It is going to add a terrific venue for tourism development,” said Rebecca Ferguson, economic policy coordinator for the city. The marina’s focus is designed to support maritime and marine sports leisure projects, Ferguson told the Community Maritime Parks Associates board of trustees Sept. 22. The marina will possibly offer kayaking and paddle boarding as well as for hosting fishing and sailing tournaments. The $1.7 million breakwater designed to protect the future marina has already been completed; and both were both of the original design for Maritime Park. (Pensacola News Journal 09/23/15)