Bids sought for swift PCB park expansion

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The city is now seeking design and construction bids for a $2.6 million concert expansion of Aaron Bessant Park despite concerns by city residents and a suspicion by two council members that the process is moving too fast.

Mayor Gayle Oberst on Tuesday told the Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC), on which she sits as a board member, that bids would be reviewed by the City Council on Oct. 27 with an eye toward moving the project forward after recent community workshops.

Two City Council members who have opposed the project, however, were saying: Whoa! What’s the rush?

“They want it up and running in 180 days,” said Councilwoman Josie Strange, who attended Tuesday’s TDC meeting and who has opposed the project along with Councilman Ken Nelson. “That’s a pretty fast track.”

The expansion of the city-owned park, including a permanent stage, additional restrooms and a new festival lawn for parking and sports, was approved 3-2 by the council weeks ago but will be funded by the TDC.

Oberst told the TDC board that community workshops have been held to hear residents’ concerns, and those fears will be taken into account during a design phase that will include input from the city.

Nearby residents have complained that the “passive” park was not meant for large concerts and that the “squeezed” area surrounding the park would not bear an increase in traffic.

Many residents have wondered why the council majority and the TDC have not sought a different plot of ground for the plans.

“I think it is highly suspicious that this is being pushed through so fast,” said Nelson, who was in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday with City Manager Richard Jackson and Assistant City Manager Mario Gisbert. “There is something going on behind the scenes that is unknown to the general public. It scares me.”

Oberst said that even after the improvements, Aaron Bessant Park would remain a venue for smaller concerts, with larger events continuing to be held at Frank Brown Park.

TDC attorney Doug Sale said the bids being sought were for a two-phase process, with the design phase taking 80 days and the construction phase taking 120 days. A bonus would come for a total completion of 180 days.

Nelson said he, Jackson, Gisbert and the owners of the old Miracle Strip Park were meeting in South Florida with a company that specializes in developing plans similar to Aaron Bessant and that also helps find funding. The abandoned Miracle Strip on Front Beach Road has been suggested as one alternative to the city park for a permanent concert venue.

“We came down here to listen,” he said, adding that he would continue to raise questions about the current plans for Aaron Bessant and the lack of proper study for an alternative.

“What wool is being pulled over the public’s eye?” he said. “I intend to find out.”