AQUARIUM artist rendering

An artist's rendering of the aquarium to be built in the maritime museum, which is slated to be a fixture of the future Community Maritime ParkI am personally a supporter of the maritime museum," UWF's Interim President Judy Bense said Friday to trustees with Community Maritime Park Associates.

Bense, former director of anthropology and archaeology, was tapped to replace previous UWF President John Cavanaugh, who left for another position.

"I will say very firmly our university community is committed to keeping our part of the bargain," Bense said.

The university plans to operate at the park an education facility, an amphitheater, the maritime museum and a multicultural center.

The Community Maritime Park is a proposed public-private development to build a baseball and multiuse stadium, UWF facilities, public park areas, and privately owned retail and commercial space.

The City of Pensacola has pledged $40 million toward the project. Financing has not been finalized, and selection of a master developer to build the park is running behind schedule.

Dean Van Galen, vice president of university advancement, said the museum components include:

n The amphitheater design is under way, and architectural services will be donated by designer Doug Mund.

n University courses at the park likely will focus on high-end, high-technology professional work and continuing education courses.

n The maritime museum and multicultural center, dedicated to Pensacola's diverse history, will be located adjacent to each other but will have separate names, entrances, missions, operating plans and advisory boards. The museum and the center may share visitor services areas, heating and cooling systems, and administration of volunteers and interns.

n The maritime museum will include exhibits tailored to public education curriculum.

Kim Walden, Escambia School District science specialist, said UWF officials already have contacted her about the project.

"It's a win-win opportunity," Walden said. "This would get students very excited and motivated about science."

COMMUNITY NEEDS Publicly oriented development along Pensacola's waterfront benefiting the entire community.

• A location for a maritime museum and University of West Florida-associated research facility.
• A location for Pensacola's numerous community events including festivals, outdoor concerts, sporting events, and community galas.
• A mid-sized conference center and parking facility.
• A venue for the expansion of the University of West Florida in downtown.
• A multi-use stadium that will successfully accommodate community events as well as professional baseball.

  PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• Community park providing more than a half-mile of uninterrupted waterfront access.
• Multi-use facility for sports, cultural, festival, and other community events.
• Maritime museum and research facility.
• Maritime museum dock facility for tall ships, research ships and visiting vessels.
• Community conference/continuing education center.
• Retail and office space spurring waterfront development and creating economic opening to West Pensacola.
• Pensacola Pelican's baseball stadium to achieve increased attendance, increased revenue, and additional fan amenities. (All team profits and sales proceeds will be donated to charity.)

  The Community Maritime Park will be multi-use and will:

• Create a cultural, entertainment and recreational anchor on the waterfront in downtown Pensacola.
• Develop multiple amenities, from the continuing education center to the maritime museum and multi-use stadium/festival park, enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the community.
• Create facilities that, via baseball, sporting events, festivals, and other community events will attract outside visitors to downtown Pensacola.
• Generate NEW tax revenue from increased sales and bed taxes.
• Create dozens of NEW jobs.
• Create hundreds of construction jobs, millions of dollars in wages, and tens of thousands of dollars in sales tax revenue during construction.
• The Community Maritime Park will create a minimum of $1 million in land leases and real estate taxes.

  COMMUNITY NEEDS Publicly oriented development along Pensacola's waterfront benefiting the entire community.

  • A location for a maritime museum and University of West Florida-associated research facility.
  • A location for Pensacola's numerous community events including festivals, outdoor concerts, sporting events, and community galas.
  • A mid-sized conference center and parking facility.
  • A venue for the expansion of the University of West Florida in downtown.
  • A multi-use stadium that will successfully accommodate community events as well as professional baseball.

   

  PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

  • Community park providing more than a half-ile of uninterrupted waterfront access.
  • Multi-use facility for sports, cultural, festival, and other community events.
  • Maritime museum and research facility.
  • Maritime museum dock facility for tall ships, research ships and visiting vessels.
  • Community conference/continuing education center.
  • Retail and office space spurring waterfront development and creating economic opening to West Pensacola.
  • Pensacola Pelican's baseball stadium to achieve increased attendance, increased revenue, and additional fan amenities. (All team profits and sales proceeds will be donated to charity.)

   

  The Community Maritime Park will be multi-use and will:

  • Create a cultural, entertainment and recreational anchor on the waterfront in downtown Pensacola.
  • Develop multiple amenities, from the continuing education center to the maritime museum and multi-use stadium/festival park, enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the community.
  • Create facilities that, via baseball, sporting events, festivals, and other community events will attract outside visitors to downtown Pensacola.
  • Generate NEW tax revenue from increased sales and bed taxes.
  • Create dozens of NEW jobs.
  • Create hundreds of construction jobs, millions of dollars in wages, and tens of thousands of dollars in sales tax revenue during construction.
  • The Community Maritime Park will create a minimum of $1 million in land leases and real estate taxes.

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• A - Great Lawn B - Community Park C - Maritime Museum D - Conference Center E - Future UWF Classrooms F - Pensacola Sports Hall of Fame G - Parking Garage H - Mixed-Use Development Address 1 - Devilliers Street 2 - Devilliers Square 3 - Devilliers Wharf 4 - Spring Street 5 - Spring Street Park 6 - Waterfront Promenade 7 - Performance Area 8 - Grand Trellis Note: Thedesign is conceptual and could be altered based on public input. The graphics below show a revised plan.