WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderSheffield Park Set for Improvements

Big improvements could soon be coming to a popular park in Lynn Haven.

Sharon Sheffield Park plays host to the city's many public celebrations. Now the Community Re-development Agency and Main Street want to use it to draw attention to the area.

According to the chairman of Lynn Haven Main Street, crews could begin work as soon as this summer. But the city commission still has a few decisions to make.

Sharon Sheffield Park is busy every summer: concerts, festivals and Fourth of July crowds congregate. It's a popular place for Lynn Haven no matter what the occasion.

But now the city including Mayor Walter Kelley says the park is ready for improvements. "We feel like we need to upgrade the main part of town and I think we're on the right direction with this and we're going to put a nice park out here at Sheffield Park."

Monday city leaders gathered to hear a presentation on proposed plans that include a new pavilion; youth water park, activities area, and playground.

John Slonina, the chairman of Main Street, says nothing will be taken away from the current park. "We'll continue to use our existing positive features but then integrating something for the kids: a new youth spray ground, a new public pool. I think that's very exciting, especially for a town like Lynn Haven."

The existing fountain will be worked into the plans as well.

Of course the focal point of the project will be Sheffield Park, but the CRA and Main Street hope to integrate some architecture similar to this gateway, which will bring continuity to Highway 77 and bring more people into businesses.

Slonina says hopefully the consistency will be good draw. "You're going to see some of the same architectural features throughout the entire city."

John Filippi, the project coordinator, says the whole project is meant to develop the Highway 77 corridor.  "It'll cause people to instead of rushing north and south along this corridor to pause, stop and visit some of the businesses."

And funding for the project? That's yet to be determined and an issue Mayor Kelley says the city commission will have to discuss.

The timeline for the project shows construction starting July fifth of this year and should take about a year to complete.