Downtown Pensacola is host to many recreational activities and events. At the center of Downtown are its many public parks – with acres of century-old oak trees, these parks are known for hosting events and concerts throughout the year. Events occur every week Downtown – from the ever-popular McGuire’s Run, which draws thousands of runners annually – to numerous parades, festivals, marathons, and summer nights gathering on a blanket for “Evenings in Old Seville Square.” With activities that range from experiencing the coastal ecosystem to watching the famous sunset over the bay every night, Downtown serves as a recreational hub for all of Pensacola.

Project Greenshores - a habitat-restoration project along downtown Pensacola's waterfront, attracts large numbers of waterbirds, gulls, tern, and cormorants. Located on the northwest side of the Pensacola Bay Bridge, sometimes more than 300 are seen at one time!

Civic Center - home to Pensacola’s own hockey team, the Ice Pilots, and numerous sports activities from youth ice hockey to a competitive indoor soccer league. You’ll also find your favorite artists, musicians and performers here.
For more information, go to www.pensacolaciviccenter.com

Historic Pensacola Village - a complex of late nineteenth century homes, several museums and the Colonial Archaeological Trail. The Village includes homes such as the Lavalle House, the Dorr House, the Julee Cottage and other historical homes. The Museums include the "Museum of Industry, Museum of Commerce, T.T. Wentworth, Jr., Florida State Museum. The Colonial Archaeological Trail begins with an exhibit telling you about the British Fort site and it's history then your led to a Garrison Kitchen, then a government house, a British well sight and other excavations.

Seville Square - at the center of Downtown’s historical district is Seville Square, a park nearly 200 years old. In the 1960's a small group of preservationists began the reconstruction of the square and today it serves as the focal point of festivals and concerts where thousands gather.

Pensacola’s Community Maritime Park (Plan Currently in the works) - The park represents an exciting new chapter for Pensacola's waterfront. The Community Maritime Park is a public/private venture planned for the 27.5 acres of publicly owned property on Pensacola Bay. It will include a 3,500-seat multi-purpose stadium, a conference/continuing education center, a maritime museum, and a mixed-use development including retail and commercial space. On April 14, 2005, the City Council approved to move forward with the plan. Next on the agenda is for the council to approve the finances, development and operations for the plan they accepted. For more information on this very exciting plan, go to www.propensacola.com

WHO LIVES DOWNTOWN?

During this past August and September, the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board conducted a survey of the 588 households (1058 residents) that reside within the area bounded by Belmont and Heinberg Streets on the North, “A” Street on the West, 17 th Street on the East, and the shoreline of Pensacola Bay on the south. The results, from this annual survey of downtown residents sheds new and revealing light on those that call the downtown area home.

With an 88% confidence level, the results suggest that the typical downtown resident was most often (53%) female. Similar majority percentages held true for all parts of the survey area except for the waterfront neighborhoods within the area south of Garden Street and west of Palafox Street. In that quadrant of downtown, men outnumbered women by almost 2 to 1.

The average age for the typical downtown resident was around 57. Some 45% of all downtown residents fall within the age category of 50 to 64. The next largest age group (23%) was those that identified their age as being from 35 to 49. Only 5% of all downtown residents are over the age of 75 while just 11% were under the age of 18.

Typical educational attainment for downtown residents is defined as someone with at least a college degree (67%). Forty-one percent of the total downtown residential population also has some graduate work or a graduate degree or more. Only 4% of those over the age of eighteen have not completed college.

Eighty-nine percent of all downtown households contain no children (i.e. those under the age of 18). The fewest children were found in the Belmont-DeVillers section of the survey area ( i.e. the area north of Garden Street and west of Palafox Street). Of the 11% of downtown households that do have children, a majority (55%) had only one child. The average household size was 1.8 persons. Thirty-eight percent of the people residing downtown live alone. The most common family unit was defined as spouses or significant others living together (48%). Another 5% of households defined the relationship of the people living in the household as roommates.

Thirty percent of downtown households have combined household income levels in excess of $100,000. The next largest household income category (20%) was found among those having incomes between $40,000 to $59,000. Only 14% of households had combined incomes less than $20,000. These numbers are not surprising considering that 70% of all downtown residents are employed. Another 21% are retired. The 9% that do not define themselves as actively in the workforce or retired include stay-at-home spouses, full-time students, and the unemployed.

Of those that work, 23% are engaged in general business activities. Employment in education and government each account for 16% of the employment sectors found among downtown residents. Medical professions comprised another 15%; and service sector jobs are held by 13% of all downtown residents. Other employment sectors mentioned less frequently included: legal, transportation, clerical, technology, retail, creative services, and the arts.

Not surprisingly, 35% of residents work in the downtown. 30% work outside of the downtown but within the City of Pensacola. Another 22% are employed somewhere in Escambia County outside of the City of Pensacola. Six percent work in Santa Rosa County; and another 6% work from home.

Ninety-six percent of all households have at least one automobile. An identical percentage of all residents over the age of 17 are registered to vote in Escambia County. Seventy-six percent of downtown residents own their own homes. Of those that do not currently own, 57% plan to try and purchase a home in the downtown area within the next two years.

Forty-eight percent of downtown residents have lived in the downtown for more than one year but less than six. Those that have lived downtown for more than 20 years accounted for 16% of all residents. The vast majority (89%) of downtown residents identify the primary reason for living downtown as convenience. The next closest reason (for access to cultural/artistic attractions) was identified first by only 3% of residents.

A complete report of the results from this research can be viewed on the DIB website (www.downtownpensacola.com). Please remember that this data was obtained from existing residents of Downtown Pensacola during August and September 2005 – not the purchasers and/or occupants of the ten new condominium projects planned or under construction in the same area. Armed with these results, our efforts to attract more quality retail and residential development will only be enhanced. It is indeed a great time to be in Downtown Pensacola.

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