(PENSACOLA) --- Former Councilwoman Sheri Myers will not give up on inclusivity at Tippin Park.
Her efforts have paid off, with the Parks & Recreation Board agreeing on July 21 to hold an August workshop on project funding.
Myers has been attending Parks & Recreation Board meetings for months on behalf of disabled residents and inclusive recreation. Young or old, Myers advocates for all residents, sometimes noting that disabled adults cannot access the beach or that children cannot safely play at Tippin Park.
(Photo: Former Councilwoman, District 2 Candidate Sheri Myers at the July 20 Parks & Recreation Board meeting)
This is the second time Myers has had to come up with money for Tippin Park since the first $1 million she garnered has since been designated to other project funding. Quint Studer and others also addressed the Parks & Recreation Board in June regarding inclusive playgrounds. Myers reminded officials of the same, noting that unless they come up with a plan, she cannot secure funding she has discussed with Studer.
“This is really bothering me because you want me to go out and find private money, but you don’t have a plan for me to present to anybody,” Myers said. “I can’t do this without the city doing its part.”
Myers let officials know “it blows her mind the city doesn’t understand its obligation to the Title Two entity,” which mandates local governments provide citizens with physical disabilities with park access.
“When it comes down to money, you can’t argue you don’t have the money; you have a legal obligation,” Myers said.
Vice Chair Daniel Brask assured Myers they were meeting it.
(Photo: Parks & Recreation Board members, Kristin Brown, left, and Vice Chair Daniel Brask, right, discussing Tippin Park, Tuesday, July 21)
“We have an idea; we're going to do a workshop in August to kind of cover some of these things or work towards that,” Brask said. “I think the idea is we start putting together a plan then.”
The city will have to come up with some money, Myers said, adding funds could come from the Children’s Trust Fund. Board member Suzanne Lewis suggested hiring a planner.
“We can use some of that money that's in the account already to hire a planning firm to do the conceptual planning in consultation with the users and with this board and with the appropriate city council people to be involved," Lewis said. "That would be a powerful way to move the project forward."
Chair Kirwan Price said he felt like “we are behind the eight ball.”
(Photo: Parks & Recreation Board members Vice Chair Daniel Brask, far left, Chair Kirwan Price, and Parks & Recreation Director Tonya Byrd)
“I thought when Miss Myers was meeting with Director Byrd that they were hammering out a rough assessment,” Price said.
That was not the case. However, the delay does not mean the board does not support Myers. Brask made it clear park inclusivity is “an established need.”
“I don't think anybody here is disputing that,” Brask said.
(Photo: Stephanie Ellis discussing project funding at the July 21 Parks & Recreation board meeting)
Project funding was also a concern for Stephanie Ellis, who introduced herself as a citizen. However, the Technology Services Coordinator at the University of Pensacola questioned the Parks and Recreation Department budget cycle. Ellis said there is a source of confusion about how the city council is involved in funding requests, specifically budget requests.
“If we had to get what we saw on the horizon, that might happen for 2027-28, we really need to start talking now, putting plans together and kind of knowing that's part of what you'll do in February of 2027 is for the 2027-28 fiscal year,” Ellis said.
Byrd could not offer a definite answer, but Price promised he would find out.
OpGov.News platform also picked up the meeting, offering a summary here for Key Takeaways including the need to fill a vacant board spot and address signage and beautification at Granada Park, as well as the ongoing issues with Wayside Park's seawall and the stalled Daniel Chappie James Memorial project."
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