Escambia Bay Waterfront Access Study will fund master planning, feasibility studies and preliminary designs
Pensacola, FL – Bluffline, Inc. is proud to announce the award of a $1.2 million Reconnecting Communities Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This funding will support the Escambia Bay Waterfront Access Study, a transformative master planning initiative focused on restoring community connections to the waterfront.
“This grant allows us to take meaningful steps toward fulfilling our mission of reuniting people with their environment and one another,” said T.S. Strickland, Director of Strategy for Bluffline, Inc. “By reconnecting Pensacola’s communities to the waterfront, we’re not only addressing decades of physical and social division but also creating pathways to opportunity, sustainability and equity for generations to come.”
The study area spans from the University of West Florida (UWF) campus, in Ferry Pass, to Chimney Park, in the Bohemia neighborhood, and southward to Corry Station, in West Pensacola. Along this route, the Bluffline envisions creating multi-use paths, pedestrian overpasses, and a water transportation network to reconnect residents with Escambia Bay and essential resources.
The neighborhoods targeted by the project struggle with a number of challenges, including high transportation insecurity, environmental burdens, economic challenges, and health disparities. More than half of those within the project area are considered “disadvantaged” by the federal government. Nearly 4,400 households lack access to a vehicle. Access to green spaces and recreational areas is severely limited, as well. Only 17.8% of Ferry Pass residents and 38.2% of West Pensacola residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, according to the Trust for Public Land’s Parkserve database.
“The Bluffline will play a critical role in advancing the City of Pensacola’s goals for equitable development, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience,” wrote City Councilman Casey Jones, whose district encompasses much of the project area, in a letter of support. “It will provide safe, non-motorized transit options for all residents, including underserved communities, enhancing access to educational institutions, job centers and recreational spaces.”
The initiative is grounded in a commitment to community engagement. Bluffline will collaborate closely with neighborhoods along the proposed route to ensure the project reflects the community’s needs and desires. This input will inform decisions on priority connections, design elements, and long-term goals, fostering a project that is both inclusive and impactful.
“Restoring access to the waterfront for nearby communities, many of which have been cut off by highway and rail infrastructure, would allow for improved access to UWF’s campus and create new opportunities for research, education, and recreation,” wrote Dr. Martha Saunders, President of the University of West Florida, in a letter of support.
In addition to improving transportation access, Bluffline’s planning will align with ongoing Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) projects to enhance environmental sustainability. “This initiative aligns closely with our environmental goals and represents a significant opportunity to improve quality of life for Pensacola residents,” wrote Bruce Woody, Executive Director of the ECUA, in a letter of support.
The project builds on the Bluffline’s broader efforts, including its application last fall for a $20 million EPA Community Change Grant in partnership with Escambia County, the Escambia County School District, and Florida Power & Light. That proposal, still pending before the federal government, focuses on transforming Jackson Lakes into a 70-acre public park and greenway that would integrate seamlessly with the waterfront access project.
“This initiative will restore access to vital resources for underserved communities, fostering economic growth, enhancing educational opportunities, and promoting environmental resilience in both districts,” wrote District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler, whose district includes Warrington, in a letter of support.
“I’m grateful that we have people in our community that have continued to push to better our neighborhoods,” added District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, whose district encompasses Ferry Pass. “This is a huge win for all our residents. The idea of having a more connected Pensacola that is walkable and provides for a more active lifestyle is encouraging. I’m excited to see what this project holds next for our community.”
Bluffline, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing a 20-mile multimodal corridor connecting the University of West Florida to Naval Air Station Pensacola. As the Corridor Management Entity for the Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Scenic Highway, the Bluffline is building safe, connected infrastructure for walking, cycling, and water transit that will reconnect communities to Pensacola's waterfront.