Escambia Purchasing Playground, Pavilion For New Park At Former IP Golf Course

July 31, 2024

In April, Escambia County leased the 68-acre former International Paper golf course in Cantonment to develop it into a park.

This week, the Escambia County Commission is set to approve the purchase a play structure and 704 square feet recreational shelter with tables for the property. The commission on Thursday will consider the $369,775.76 purchase and installation from GameTime. The recreational area will be open to the public and free of charge once completed and opened. The playground will include a play structure for ages 5-12 and a separate play structure for ages 2-5.

The purchase will be funded from the Cantonment Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

The golf course has been closed since 2017. Escambia County plans to use the land for disc golf and walking trails in addition to the pavilion and playground. The park will be open only during daylight hours.

Under the lease agreement for, Escambia County will pay a $5,000 lease fee the first year with an annual increase of 5% with the lease reading $6,077.53 by year five.

The property was previously known as the Champion Golf Club.

Pictured: The former International Paper golf course at the corner of Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Courtesy (top)  and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

15 Responses to “Escambia Purchasing Playground, Pavilion For New Park At Former IP Golf Course”

  1. Captain Willard on August 1st, 2024 5:45 pm

    In the mid-sixties, I played in the Divot Derby, this course was in the rotation, different course each day, for a poor boy playing at the old PCC, Scenic Hills and Osceola (public and my home club) was a good thing back in those days. I never placed in a Flight. I didn’t know about sandbagging, I was so stupid I lied that I was better than I was. It was a lot of fun and kept me out of pool halls and most likely Juvenile Hall.

  2. Wise guy on August 1st, 2024 5:32 pm

    At least have it where people can fish there too

  3. camper on August 1st, 2024 12:05 pm

    Brosnaham Park used to be a general use, wide-open park. Then, soccer fields and more soccer fields. Recently, the open area on the north end was closed off with another multi-million dollar building added for more soccer stuff.

    Escambia has way too many ‘ball’ fields. Please make this general use.

  4. Sherry on August 1st, 2024 9:47 am

    Can’t wait for this. You should add a splash pad there too. Kickball, volleyball, flag football, and other sports tournaments every now and then with food trucks will be a fun addition to Cantonment too. Also will bring in money and something for kids to do.

  5. Kyle Stpierre on July 31st, 2024 11:44 pm

    Should put a skate park there also

  6. Perkflower on July 31st, 2024 9:59 pm

    I love the idea of a park but only if done correctly. Having a meeting with the residents about how they will proceed and how the noise and traffic will be addressed. Will the parking be in the same place as the golf parking? The neighborhood roads already get tons of traffic on them when there is a train. Semi’s barreling through residential roads. Escambia County isn’t known for its forward thinking. Making a sustainable resilient safe community place requires innovative thought and calculated planning. I hope they do the right thing for the neighborhood and the adjoining residents.

  7. SHO-NUFF on July 31st, 2024 8:12 pm

    Was once a cheap place to play 9 holes of golf.
    My golf buddies and I referred to the course as the “Cow Pasture”, not the best around but it was good enough.
    Seeing it repurposed as a park and disc golf is great. It can be a place of foul odors if the wind is blowing towards the North.
    Hey, it will be free to use so don’t complain!

  8. Roger on July 31st, 2024 5:26 pm

    There are those in the area that can tear up a steel brick. Unless this place is fenced off and locks after hours. It will be torn up in short order

  9. Its coming on July 31st, 2024 2:36 pm

    Bathrooms, shade and tables for the homeless!
    Mecca for the homeless.

  10. Rosemary on July 31st, 2024 1:40 pm

    Please consider sails for shade or nearby trees to help with the heat. Would also love to see exercise equipment for older citizens along the path. This is great!

  11. Cb on July 31st, 2024 12:11 pm

    I would suggest to make it pet friendly as well

  12. Me on July 31st, 2024 11:33 am

    This will be a great thing for our community!
    I’d like to see the old style concrete picnic table spots like at the rest areas.
    I am very excited about this!
    Cameras! We need cameras ….that work ……to record and cut down on any wrong doings!

  13. concerned Nana on July 31st, 2024 11:28 am

    All the parks are nice to have. But what about security. vandalism, homeless etc. you can’t gather to enjoy the park when you are worried about drugs, a shooting or mugging.
    and it should have a restroom that is kept clean. Maybe even a splashpad.
    Just food for thought.

  14. JLary Seale on July 31st, 2024 11:03 am

    I hope this not another scann job like the
    preposed park on olive road

  15. Tinpan on July 31st, 2024 7:21 am

    Can they put a roof over the playground equipment? We have visited all playgrounds in the area and they are to hot to get on. We have gone as early as 9 o clock in the morning and the slides and other areas were to hot to touch. Thanks