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|size=30 27.5 acres|facilities=multi-use stadium<br/>maritime museum<br/>[[UWF]] classrooms<breducation/>conference center<br/>concert green

|location=[[Trillium property]]

The '''Vince Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park''' (often abbreviated to '''Whibbs Park''', '''Community Maritime Park''' or '''CMP''') is a project public-private development that is planned to occupy the 30[[City of Pensacola|City]]-owned, 27.5-acre [[Trillium property]] on Pensacola's waterfront. It was developed by the [[Community Maritime Park Associates]] (CMPA)will include a 3,500-seat "multi-use" stadium, initially comprised of Vice Admiral a [[Jack Fettermanmaritime museum]], a conference/education center with [[UWF]] President [[John Cavanaugh]] and [[Pensacola Pelicans]] owner [[Quint Studer]]. After the death University of Admiral Fetterman, the third principal position was filled by Mayor Emeritus [[Vince WhibbsWest Florida]]classrooms, after whose death a variety of mixed-use development and a large public park along the position was again filled by Judge [[Lacey Collier]]waterfront.

The plan, refined in public focus groups project was conceived and promoted by urban planner a group of prominent citizens including Admiral [[Ray GindrozJack Fetterman]], includes a businessman [[maritime museumQuint Studer]] and research center, a "multi-use" stadium for the Pelicans, a conference center, university classrooms, a large public lawn and concert shell, mixed-use commercial space and other amenities. On [[January 18UWF]], President [[2005John Cavanaugh]], the . An initial layout was refined in public focus groups by urban planner [[Pensacola City CouncilRay Gindroz]] approved , and the revised conceptual plan was approved by an 8-1 vote. Shortly thereafter, the political action group [[Save Our Pensacola CityCouncil]], led by in [[Charles Fairchild2005]] and dissenting city councilman . A grassroots ad hoc group called [[Marty DonovanSave Our City]], started a petition to force a city referendum on the issue, hoping attempted to overturn the council's decision. After and forced a long and divisive campaign by both sides[[Community Maritime Park referendum|special referendum]], but the plan project was approved affirmed by the city voters of Pensacola on [[September 5]], [[2006]].

The twelve-person park will be [[Community Maritime Park Associates#Funding|funded]] board of trustees was selected both by the CMPA principals and by the a $40 million [[Pensacola City Council]]. On [[April 13Community Redevelopment Agency]]bond, subject to a [[2007Wikipedia:Florida Supreme Court|Florida Supreme Court]]decision potentially affecting tax increment financing, and an estimated $30 million or more in private contributions. Development and operation will be administered by the board selected the architectural firm non-profit [[Caldwell Community Maritime Park Associates]], which had been involved in preliminary development, as its top choice to write the final design criteria.

On It is named for former [[September 6Mayor of Pensacola|Mayor]], [[2007Vince Whibbs]], who became a principal of the Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling about tax-increment financing (TIF) bonds that could endanger venture after the project's $40 million bond from death of Admiral Fetterman before passing away himself during the [[Community Redevelopment Agency]], a TIF districtreferendum campaign.

==Plan DetailsHistory==[[Image:CMP-OverheadDiagram.jpg|thumb|right{{main|Diagram Timeline of the proposed parkCommunity Maritime Park}}===Background===In [[2001]], the [[Image:CMPCity of Pensacola]] purchased a 27.5-GreenRenderingacre peninsular parcel of formerly industrial land, commonly known as the [[Trillium property]], at a cost of $3.63 million.<ref>"City OKs contract to buy Trillium site.jpg|thumb|right|A path along the ballpark" ''Pensacola News Journal''s outfield wall connects to the waterfront concert green, March 29, 2000.</ref> Located south of [[Pensacola City Hall|City Hall]]and [[Image:CMP-WharfRendering.jpg|thumb|right|Rendering of the shops and restaurants along the De Villiers Main Street Wharf.]]to [[Image:CMP-SpringStRendering.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial rendering of Pensacola Bay]], and bounded to the Park's Spring Street entrance east and west by [[Port Royal]] and [[Bruce Beach]] respectively, it was the largest undeveloped waterfront property's eastern featuresin the Pensacola area.]]

===Multi-use Stadium===One The site was soon considered for a municipal auditorium to replace the aging [[Bayfront Auditorium]]. Architectural firm [[Bullock Tice Associates]] created a conceptual plan, called the [[Festival Park]], which was approved by the [[Pensacola City Council]] on [[November 21]], [[2002]]. Initial work had already begun, including a massive concrete breakwater on the southern edge of the largest property, when a group called [[Citizens Against Trillium]] (and most criticizedled by [[Charles Fairchild]]) elements of petitioned for a referendum on the park is the stadium that will serve primarily as project, utilizing a home ballpark for yet-untried proviso of the Studer-owned city's charter. On [[Pensacola PelicansMarch 25]]. When not in use, [[2003]] the outfield walls can be removed citizens of Pensacola voted to connect overturn the space with council's decision and scrap the waterfront concert greenplan.

Park proponents argue [[Image:CMP-EarlyPlan.jpg|thumb|right|The initial [[Caldwell Associates]] design presented to the [[Pensacola City Council|City Council]]]]In late 2004, months after [[Hurricane Ivan]] devastated the Pensacola area, city officials including [[Pensacola City Manager|City Manager]] [[Tom Bonfield]] and [[Mayor of Pensacola|Mayor]] [[John Fogg]] met informally with a group of business leaders to discuss ways to revitalize the battered city. Someone mentioned that [[Admiral Fetterman]] and [[Quint Studer]] had been seeking homes for their respective projects: a museum of maritime history, which Fetterman had earlier tried to attach to the 3[[Festival Park]] project,<ref>John H. Fetterman. "Viewpoint: Opportunity here,500-seat stadiums can be used now for a number of outdoor activitiesMaritime Museum." ''Pensacola News Journal'', including concertsJanuary 26, graduation ceremonies 2003.</ref> and other sporting eventsa new ballpark for the [[Pensacola Pelicans]], but critics dispute its which Studer had initially planned to build at the old [[American Creosote]] site.<ref name="denywrongdoing">Michael Stewart. "multi-useOfficials deny wrongdoing." capabilities''Pensacola News Journal'', June 24, 2006.</ref>

According to [[Mort O'Sullivan]], who was at the initial meeting, "Fetterman and Studer had never discussed the combination idea with each other and neither was present at the meeting, but it was agreed we would seek the opinions of each."<ref name="citydivided">Michael Stewart. "A city divided." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 20, 2006.</ref> After meeting with the two, architect [[Miller Caldwell]] agreed to produce a conceptual rendering. After seeing the drawings, Fetterman reportedly pushed his notes into the middle of the table and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm all in."<ref name="citydivided"/> The group then approached [[John Cavanaugh]], who was seeking to expand [[UWF]]'s presence downtown, and he suggested using the state university's umbrella to provide matching funds to the maritime museum. <div align=Maritime museum & research "center"><gallery caption="Renderings of the initial [[Caldwell Associates]] design" heights="120px" perrow="4">Image:CMP-EarlyBallparkElevation.jpgImage:CMP-EarlyRendering1.jpgImage:CMP-EarlyRendering2.jpgImage:CMP-EarlyRendering3.jpg</gallery></div> [[Image:RightIdeaRightTime.png|left|110px|Right Idea, Right Time]]The [[Community Maritime Park Associates]] presented the plan to the [[Pensacola City Council]] on [[January 18]], [[2005]] with more than 350 supporters in attendance, many wearing stickers with the slogan "Right Idea, Right Time." The plan was approved in concept by an 8-1 vote. Dissenting council member [[Marty Donovan]] said of the presentation, "Obviously, while we were working on hurricane recovery, another group came up with their plan, independent of we city leaders. My constituents read about it in the paper. And two days later, we were at a well-orchestrated pep rally."<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Revote on park plan invites critics." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 21, 2005.</ref> [[Image:CMP-FocusGroup.jpg|thumb|right|140px|[[M. J. Menge]] and [[Clark Thompson]] participate in a public focus group]][[Festival Park]] opponent [[Charles Fairchild]] called the proposal "an interesting plan that has a lot for everyone,"<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Park is talk of the town." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 19, 2005.</ref> but requested that city staff conduct a public input process to refine the park's design. Urban planner [[Ray Gindroz]], whose Pittsburgh-based Urban Design Associates helped create the [[CRA]]'s [[historic district master plan]] in 2003, was invited back to host a series of public input sessions and focus groups. "This is one of the most exciting things I've seen," Gindroz said. "I'm very impressed with the generosity and the public-spirited nature of the people involved and the way they are handling this."<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Bayfront planners welcome options." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 23, 2005.</ref> The [[Avery Group]], led by Marty Donovan's brother [[Tim Donovan|Tim]], donated its consulting services to the effort.<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Float ideas about waterfront park plan." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 14, 2005.</ref> [[Image:CMP-GindrozRevisedPlan.jpg|thumb|right|Diagram of the revised plan by Urban Design Associates]]After more than 50 presentations and 16 public input sessions, Gindroz unveiled the revised conceptual plan on [[April 7]], 2005. Many of the details had been changed to reflect recommendations made by residents; for example, the office buildings and other structures, originally located near the [[Pensacola Bay|bay]], were moved to the northern edge along [[Main articleStreet]].<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Maritime park details take shape." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 16, 2005.</ref> "I'm excited about this project," Gindroz said. "The waterfront now is about as dead as you can get and is separated from the rest of the city. … The intent is to make something unique for Pensacola that plays on its history."<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Gindroz unveils final park plans." ''Pensacola News Journal'', April 8, 2005.</ref> Shortly after the revised conceptual designs were released, the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' published a viewpoint by [[Charles Fairchild]] that decried the plan as "a small open waterfront space that lacks easy access, has limited parking, and for the most part becomes a private enclave for those who have the good fortune of having their buildings and activities there."<ref>Charles Fairchild. "Viewpoint: Maritime park plan falls way short of needs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 17, 2005.</ref> Councilman [[Marty Donovan]] suggested issuing a nationwide request for proposals (RFP) for the [[Trillium property]], but his motion was voted down 9-1 on [[June 9]].<ref>Brett Norman. "Sides spar over park proposal." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 10, 2005.</ref> [[Pensacola City Manager|City Manager]] [[Tom Bonfield]] later defended defended the lack of a more thorough RFP process, saying the [[Community Maritime Park Associates]] were the only group to present a "timely and responsive" plan since the [[Festival Park]] proposal was overturned.<ref>Carlton Proctor. "Park opponents blast plan." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 13, 2005.</ref> On [[June 23]], [[2005]], the council voted 9-1 (with Donovan again the lone dissenting vote) to move forward on the CMP proposal.<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Maritime park step closer to reality." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 24, 2005.</ref> <div align="center"><gallery caption="Revised conceptual designs by [[Ray Gindroz]] and Urban Design Associates" heights="120px" perrow="4">Image:CMP-AerialRendering.jpgImage:CMP-GreenRendering.jpgImage:CMP-WharfRendering.jpgImage:CMP-SpringStRendering.jpg</gallery></div> ===Referendum==={{main|Community Maritime Park referendum}}On [[November 4]], [[Marty Donovan]] released an open letter to [[Quint Studer]] and [[Charles Fairchild]] calling for a referendum on the maritime park project. Fairchild had started an opposition group called [[Save Our City]] that was already investigating the possibility. "I think the referendum would kind of get it over with," he said. "The longer this thing waits and festers, the worse it's going to be."<ref name="proposesreferendum">Brett Norman. "Donovan proposes referendum for park." ''Pensacola News Journal'', November 5, 2005.</ref> Mayor [[John Fogg]] expressed disapproval for the idea, calling it "government by referendum." Studer concurred: "You can't just keep waiting for one more thing, another meeting, another study, another vote. Because every day when we don't move forward on our projects, we lose more of our young people."<ref name="proposesreferendum"/> CMP principal Admiral John H[[Jack Fetterman]] died on [[March 24]], [[2006]], after months of declining health.<ref>Troy Moon and Lesley Conn. "'Gentle warrior' passes." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 25, 2006.</ref> Just days later, on [[March 27]], the [[Pensacola City Council|City Council]] voted 9-1 to approve the master lease agreement for the project. Save Our City kicked off a petition campaign to force a referendum the same day.<ref>Alvin Peabody. "Council passes park plan." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 28, 2006. </ref> Mayor Emeritus [[Vince Whibbs]], a vocal proponent of the project, was selected on [[May 12]] to succeed Fetterman as the third principal of the [[Community Maritime Park Associates]],<ref>Alvin Peabody. "Whibbs to join park project's board." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 13, 2006.</ref> but himself passed away on [[May 30]].<ref>Troy Moon. "Champion of city passes." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 31, 2006.</ref> The City Council later voted to name the park in his honor.<ref>Alvin Peabody. "Proposed maritime park named after late Mayor Emeritus Whibbs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 25, 2006.</ref> On [[May 24]], Save Our City submitted more than 9,000 signed petitions to the city, which forwarded them to [[Escambia County Supervisor of Elections]] [[David Stafford]] for verification.<ref>Alvin Peabody. "Park vote moves closer." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 8, 2006.</ref> A minimum of 5,600 valid signatures were needed, and Stafford's office completed verification of 7,122 signatures on [[June 13]], ensuring a referendum would take place.<ref>Alvin Peabody. "City Council schedules vote on downtown park proposal." June 23, 2006.</ref> The issue was placed on the [[September 5]] ballot, along with the [[2006 primary election|state primary races]] and a renewal of the [[half-cent school tax]]. [[Image:CMP-VoteYesSign.jpg|thumb|right|Circular "Vote Yes" sign paid for by [[Friends of the Waterfront Park]]]]In the remaining months before the referendum, both sides — Save Our City and a pro-park group called [[Friends of the Waterfront Park]] — engaged in a hard-hitting campaign that often resorted to personal attacks and accusations. The Friends political group, funded largely by [[Quint Studer]], mounted a campaign portraying critics of the plan as curmudgeonly naysayers, embodied by a pair of cartoon characters named [[Chuckie and Donno]].<ref>Wayne A. Stewart. "Letter to the Editor: Insulting cartoon." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 5, 2006.</ref> Save Our City depicted Studer as a scheming carpetbagger who was getting a "$100 million ballpark" (a figure derived from the bond, interest and an estimated value of the property) for only [[#Ownership & administration|$1 a year]].<ref>Michael Stewart. "Project opponents say funds from CRA would serve better purpose elsewhere." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 20, 2006.</ref> Fairchild also produced a series of emails from marketing firm [[E. W. Bullock Associates]], obtained through a public records request to university and city administrators, which he claimed showed an inappropriate back-room attempt "to push their plan on the council and the people of Pensacola" and represented a conflict of interest on the part of the firm, which frequently did work for the [[City of Pensacola]].<ref name="criesfoul">Michael Stewart. "Opponent of park cries foul." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 23, 2006.</ref> In one email, dated [[January 19], [[2005]], public relations specialist [[Raad Cawthon]] offered a reading of the council members' predispositions and boasted of at least "five votes in our pocket."<ref name="criesfoul"/> However, both Bullock and the council insisted Cawthon was just "counting votes" and denied any impropriety: "No one from the maritime park has so much as bought me a Diet Coke," said Councilman [[P. C. Wu]]. "If I'm in their pocket, they got me very cheap."<ref name="denywrongdoing"/> Just days before the referendum, local activist [[Tom Garner]] filed a complaint with the state attorney's office, citing the emails as evidence of possible [[Sunshine Law]] violations.<ref>Michael Stewart. "Activist files park complaint." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 30, 2006.</ref> The state attorney's office quickly dismissed the complaint, determining there were "insufficient facts to establish that any violation of the Sunshine Law occurred."<ref>Michael Stewart. "Office dismisses park plan complaint." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 2, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://routzen.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/state-attorneys-response-to-garner-complaint.pdf State Attorney's response to Garner complaint]</ref> In the end, the park project received endorsements by the [[Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Florida Commerce]],<ref>"Pensacola Chamber endorsing project." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 22, 2006.</ref> the [[Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce]],<ref>Sean Dugas. "Park friends, foes plan last-minute events." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 25, 2006.</ref> the [[UWF]] Board of Trustees,<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Votes, grants, endorsements propel park plan." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 25, 2006.</ref> media outlets including the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]''<ref>"Our view: Voters should approve Maritime Park." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 27, 2006.</ref> and ''[[Independent News]]'',<ref>Rick Outzen. "[http://routzen.wordpress.com/2006/09/05/if-undecided-on-the-waterfront-park/ If undecided on the Waterfront Park.]" ''Rick's Blog'', September 5, 2006.</ref> and a myriad of professional groups, businesses and prominent individuals. The [[Friends of the Waterfront Park]] spent nearly $600,000 to promote the project, most of it donated by Studer and his company, compared to the $68,700 raised by [[Save Our City]].<ref>Mark O'Brien. "Money, young people help bring a new look to Pensacola politics." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 6, 2006.</ref> The Community Maritime Park was approved in [[Community Maritime Park referendum|special referendum]] on [[September 5]], [[2006]], with around 56 percent of city voters approving both the conceptual plan and the $40 million public bond.<ref>Michael Stewart. "Voters OK park." September 6, 2006.</ref> The official tally was 9,684 to 7,701.<ref>[http://escambiavotes.com/electionresults_con.php?election_id=1 Election results]</ref> ===Development==={{sectstub}} ==Features==<div align="center"><table cellpadding="5" style="color:#b45a11;background-color:#f0f6ed;list-style-type:upper-latin"><tr><td>[[Image:Community_Maritime_Park_Logo.png|center|100px|Community Maritime Park features]]<ol style="list-style-type:upper-alpha;padding:6px 3px 0 0"><li>[[#Multi-purpose stadium|Multi-purpose stadium]]</li><li>[[#Maritime museum|Maritime museum & research center]]</li><li>[[#Education/conference center|Education/conference center]]</li><li>[[#Water garden & Spring Street park|Water garden]]</li><li>[[#Water garden & Spring Street park|Spring Street park]]</li><li>[[#South park & waterfront promenade|South park]]</li><li>[[#South park & waterfront promenade|Waterfront promenade]]</li><li>[[#Plaza DeVilliers|Plaza DeVilliers]]</li><li>[[#DeVilliers Wharf|DeVilliers Wharf]]</li><li>[[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]</li><li>[[#Studer office building|Office building]]</li><li>[[#Parking|Structured parking]]</li><li>[[#Parking|Surface parking]]</li><li>[[#Lighthouse|Lighthouse]]</li><li>[[#Marina & fishing piers|Marina & fishing piers]]</li><li>[[#Heritage museum|Heritage museum]]</li></ol></td><td style="color:#f0f6ed"><imagemap>Image:CMP-MasterPlan.jpg|450px|Features rect 270 147 496 345 [[#Parking|Structured parking]]rect 229 451 375 544 [[#Plaza DeVilliers|Plaza DeVilliers]]poly 230 1134 269 1134 294 1158 794 1144 798 1131 842 1128 844 1164 230 1179 [[#South park & waterfront promenade|Waterfront promenade]]poly 287 951 289 1022 273 1022 270 1132 297 1154 793 1141 793 1131 833 1122 868 1075 853 944 834 857 763 929 661 955 [[#South park & waterfront promenade|South park]]poly 698 106 942 103 936 179 896 274 835 348 770 383 697 399 [[#Water garden & Spring Street park|Water garden]]poly 427 569 544 574 543 457 586 457 583 573 849 571 848 642 831 643 832 800 799 875 713 930 519 932 486 758 485 612 427 606 [[#Multi-purpose stadium|Multi-purpose stadium]]poly 746 451 809 453 811 568 849 569 851 643 839 645 841 792 830 846 867 1065 842 1116 842 1165 865 1165 867 1185 917 1187 920 1134 893 1133 893 1106 971 1105 971 1097 894 1097 895 997 950 998 952 991 894 990 894 890 971 890 972 882 894 881 892 783 934 782 936 775 893 774 892 456 940 402 957 367 958 328 949 296 933 283 866 372 786 423 [[#Water garden & Spring Street park|Spring Street park]]poly 231 1188 189 1186 190 1149 220 1149 220 1136 125 1136 123 1072 220 1072 219 1025 127 1025 126 962 219 961 220 919 126 918 128 857 219 852 217 591 271 592 269 943 281 950 280 1019 269 1021 268 1132 230 1134 [[#DeVilliers Wharf|DeVilliers Wharf]]poly 86 422 172 463 173 587 84 534 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 75 303 56 332 143 383 177 383 175 113 30 113 30 148 135 148 134 330 79 301 [[#Mixed-use area|Mixed-use area]]poly 232 235 265 235 265 142 498 142 497 235 541 236 540 103 227 102 223 232 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 224 259 266 259 264 350 499 349 499 257 541 259 543 420 221 419 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 590 107 693 107 693 398 587 413 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 275 642 371 642 373 943 284 943 274 931 [[#Maritime museum|Maritime museum]]poly 30 388 78 416 79 536 31 506 [[#Maritime museum|Maritime museum]]poly 426 608 479 615 480 764 493 859 421 856 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 991 110 1140 112 1140 221 990 217 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 29 150 131 150 130 313 82 293 55 329 36 318 31 301 [[#Parking|Surface parking]]poly 588 458 803 456 805 567 585 569 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 425 455 436 449 541 450 542 567 538 572 423 568 [[#Education/conference center|Education/conference center]]poly 271 592 310 593 312 639 273 639 [[#Mixed-use development|Mixed-use development]]poly 325 592 371 593 374 639 326 639 [[#Maritime museum|Maritime Museum museum]] desc bottom-left</imagemap></td></tr></table></div>===Multi-purpose stadium===One of the largest and Research Centermost contentious elements of the Community Maritime Park is the multi-purpose stadium situated in the eastern-central portion of the property. It will become the home field of the [[Pensacola Pelicans]], owned by CMP principal [[Quint Studer]], who has pledged an annual lease of $170,000 for at least ten years to use the ballpark.<ref name="plansrevised">Carlton Proctor. "Park plans revised amid higher costs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 17, 2005.</ref> The stadium will also be designed to accommodate other uses, including soccer and football games and outdoor concerts. [[Image:CMP-FieldConfigurations.png|thumb|center|600px|Diagrams of the multi-use stadium in baseball, football, soccer and concert configurations]] <div align="center"><gallery caption="Renderings of the multi-use stadium" heights="120px" perrow="4">Image:CMP-CedarStStadium.jpgImage:CMP-StadiumPicnic.jpgImage:CMP-StadiumRight.jpgImage:CMP-StadiumRight2.jpg</gallery></div> ===Maritime museum===[[Image:MaritimeMuseumRendering.png|right|330px|Conceptual elevation of the Fetterman Maritime Museum by designer Doug Mund]]{{main|Fetterman Maritime Museum}}The western side of the property will feature a 50,000 square foot maritime museum the [[Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and research centerResearch Center]]. Conceived by the late Vice Admiral [[Jack Fetterman]], for whom it was later named, the 50,000 square foot, $18 million museum will be funded half by private donations and half by the State of Florida's Alec P. Courtelis Matching Gift Program.

<div align="center"><gallery caption="Renderings of the [[Fetterman Maritime Museum]]" heights="120px" perrow=University classrooms & conference "4">Image:MaritimeMuseum-SitePlan.jpgImage:MaritimeMuseum-Lobby.jpgImage:MaritimeMuseum-DeVilliers.jpgImage:MaritimeMuseum-Reus.jpg</gallery></div> ===Conference/education center===The [[University of West Florida]] will also host classes for its business and continuing education departments at the Parkpark. The same building may complex will also house a conference center, which [[Quint Studer]] has promised to use for [[Studer Group|his company's]] health care seminars.The university will contribute about $15 million for the center's construction and will pay an estimated $350,000 in annual rent for at least ten years.<ref name="cavanaughboosts">Alvin Peabody. "Cavanaugh boosts UWF center." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 7, 2006.</ref> ===Mixed-use area===Several buildings will be constructed on the northern end of the property, between [[Main Street|Main]] and [[Cedar Street]]s, to be leased to third parties for retail shops, restaurants and other uses. These leases are expected to generate a large portion of the park's revenue. <div align="center"><gallery caption="Renderings of the mixed-use area" heights="120px" perrow="4">Image:CMP-CedarStMixed.jpgImage:CMP-DevilliersMixed.jpgImage:CMP-SpringStMixed.jpg</gallery></div> ===Public park space=======Water garden & Spring Street park===={{sectstub}}

===Public green space =South park & waterfront accesspromenade====The entire southern end of the Park property adjacent to [[Pensacola Bay]] will be converted to a public concert green and waterfront promenade. Retired insurance executive [[R. K. "Skip" Hunter]] donated $1 million to the project in [[2006]] for the construction of a concert shell on the property's southeast corner.{{sectstub}}

[[Image:CMP-DevilliersSquare.jpg|thumb|right|Rendering of Plaza DeVilliers]]====Plaza DeVilliers=Mixed-use commercial space===Several buildings '''Plaza DeVilliers''' will be constructed on a civic square located the northern end terminus of the property[[DeVilliers Street]] extension, adjacent to be leased to third parties entrances of all the major attractions and serving as a central "meeting point" for retail shopspark visitors. It will feature a paved plaza, information kiosk, restaurants and other usesa grassy lawn landscaped with canopy trees. These leases are expected to generate  ====DeVilliers Wharf===='''DeVilliers Wharf''' will be a large portion public promenade running north-south along the western edge of the Parkproperty as a pedestrian extension of [[De Villiers Street]]. It will be 55's revenuewide and features a split-level design.

[[Image:CMP-MixedParkingCrossSection.png|right|180px|Cross-section of the parking structure and mixed-use liner building]]====Parking====The Park will also include landscaped gardens final buildout of the park calls for two main off-street parking areas on the park property: a surface lot of approximately 70 spaces in the northwest corner and fountainsa four-story parking garage in the central mixed-use block, gazebos, a breakwater which will be "wrapped" by the five-story-tall commercial and marinaresidential structures, and eventually resulting in a lighthousetotal parking capacity of around 1, although rising costs have forced 060 vehicles.<ref>'''Note''': The design guidelines alternately describe an eight-story garage in the development team to postpone these features until an unspecified timecentral block, including one level below grade, when additional revenue enables that would allow a total capacity of "Phase IIno less than 2,000 spaces."</ref> However, as the cost of the garage may not be possible in the scope of phase one, it may start as a surface lot of around 350 spaces.

==Background and timeline==Marina & fishing piers====The 30-acre [[Trillium property]], a peninsular lot south of [[Main Street]] roughly between [[Spring Street|Spring]] and [[De Villiers Street]]s, had been purchased by the [[City of Pensacola]] for $3.63 million on [[March 28]], [[2000]]. On [[May 31]], [[2001]], a [[Festival Park]] project was proposed by [[Bullock Tice Associates]] to occupy the site. The $40 million plan, which included a 16-acre public park, an $18 million auditorium (to replace the aging [[Bayfront Auditorium]] on [[Palafox Street]]) and space for future development, was approved by the [[Pensacola City Council]] on [[November 21]], [[2002]]. Initial work had already begun, including a massive concrete group called [[Citizens Against Trillium]] (which included [[Charles Fairchild]]) petitioned for a referendum on the project. On [[March 25]], [[2003]] the citizens of Pensacola voted to overturn the Council's decision and scrap the plan.{{sectstub}}

In late [[2004]], months after [[Hurricane Ivan]] devastated the Pensacola area, city leaders including City Manager [[Tom Bonfield]] and Mayor [[John Fogg]] met with [[Admiral Fetterman]] and others to discuss ideas about ====Lighthouse====The master plan depicts a possible "maritime park" project for lighthouse in the Trillium site. The [[Community Maritime Park Associates]] was formed and presented a preliminary proposal to southwest corner of the [[Pensacola City Council]]property, which approved but this is not included in the concept on [[January 18]], [[2005]]scope of phase one.

==Criticisms & referendum==Heritage museum===={{sectstub}}In addition to the park's eponymous [[maritime museum]], other museum ideas have been proposed by various groups to occupy the property. In [[2005]], leaders of the [[Pensacola Sports Association]] (the headquarters of which are near the [[Trillium]] site on [[Main Street]]) expressed interest in adding a Sports Hall of Fame to the park project, showcasing the careers of famous Pensacola athletes like [[Jerry Pate]], [[Emmitt Smith]], [[Roy Jones]] and [[Justin Gatlin]].<ref>Shelley Robinson. "A park for the stars." ''Pensacola News Journal'', April 10, 2005.</ref>

{{sectstub}}===CRA bond===The Park was conceived as Much of the park's public funding comes from a $70 million project — $40 million provided by a [[Community Redevelopment Agency]] (CRA) bond. The CRA is a [[Wikipedia:tax increment financing|tax increment financing]] district created to revitalize the city core. City and county [[Property tax|taxes]] paid on property improvements since [[1984]] are deposited into the CRA fund and reinvested into the district through capital projects. Thus, a bond through the CRA is paid by property owners within the district, and but does not require any new taxes. At the time of the park proposal, the CRA had an additional annual revenue of $30 3.4 million or and was growing at a rate of 20 percent a year. [[Pensacola City Manager|City Manager]] [[Tom Bonfield]] used more conservative estimates in considering a CRA bond, assuming zero growth in the 2006 fiscal year, and announced to the council that "there is a way for the project to be financially feasible."<ref name="councilreview">Sheila Ingram. "Council to review park plan." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 7, 2005.</ref> According to Bonfield, the final cost with interest over the life of the bond would be $77 million. "There is a cost, there's no hiding that," he said. "But that's the way public projects are done."<ref name="councilreview"/> ====''Strand'' decision===={{main|Strand v. Escambia County}} ====Other public money====Much of the park funding will also come from private developmentother public sources. The $18 million [[maritime museum]] will receive up to half of its construction costs from the State of Florida's Alec P. Courtelis Matching Gift Program. Operating costs for the museum and research center will be paid by the state-funded [[University of West Florida]], in addition to at least $350, grants and donations000 in annual rent for the education/conference center.<ref name="cavanaughboosts"/>

==Development=====Environmental workPrivate donations & investments===The soil of the [[TrilliumQuint Studer]] property is contaminated with petroleum and arsenic and must be treated before construction can begin. In addition, about four acres has made a number of financial commitments to the property are wetlands, which must be guarded against Community Maritime Park. He has pledged for the development or mitigated by creating new wetland areas nearby. The necessary permits were submitted to state officials on [[August 15Pensacola Pelicans|Pelicans]]to play at the park for a minimum of ten years, [[2007]]paying an annual lease of at least $175, and often take up 000. He has also agreed to pay $250,000 a year for five years to be approved. According to [[Florida Department of Environmental Protection Northwest District]] Director [[Dick Fancher]]cover any initial operating deficit; if there is no such deficit, "So much depends on how complete the application is and how complicated it is." When asked if the CMP's permits might money will be approved more quickly, he said, "I don't know if there's sticking points but there's definitely issues donated to look atlocal charities. I don't think it's an impossibility."<ref>[http://inweeklyLesley Conn.net/article"Maritime park vote on horizon.asp?artID=5475 Maritime Park Milestone], " ''Independent Pensacola NewsJournal'', September 6March 3, 20072006.</ref>

===Financial troublesRising costs & development "phases"===In early June 2007When urban planner [[Ray Gindroz]] revised the initial park design, he was not asked to stay within a budget. As a result, Governor according to [[Wikipedia:Charlie Crist|Charlie CristTom Bonfield]] vetoed about $2.5 million in state funds , he "added a whole bunch of stuff that had been expected for environmental cleanup.wasn't there before"<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Park money at riskfaces more scrutiny." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 720, 20072005.</ref> In addition— amenities like a lighthouse, a concert shell, dramatic and a large-scale replica of the [[property taxWilliam Panton Mansion]] reforms enacted by the Florida legislature could cause a budget shortage that would force a reevaluation of the project.Combined with an estimated 12.5 percent increase in construction costs after [[Hurricane Katrina|Hurricanes Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]],<ref>"Park money at riskSample of projects battling a rise in costs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 11October 16, 20072005.</ref>and park developers began contemplating multiple "phases" of construction that would deliver all the promised features while not exceeding the $40 million public bond.

A [[September 6]]===Economic impact===In February 2005, [[2007]] decision by the Florida Supreme Court struck down a decision by the [[Escambia County CommissionHaas Center for Business Research and Economic Development]] to create released a tax-increment financing (TIF) district to fund road improvements in [[Perdido Key]], ruling study that TIF districts may not use bonds for special projects without approval by a taxpayer referendum. This could impact the Community Maritime Park's projected about $40 51 million bond a year in new economic activity from the [[Community Redevelopment Agency]]park, a TIF districtincluding about 767 new jobs and $24. Although the Park was approved by voters 1 million in [[2006]], the referendum was only open to [[City of Pensacola]] voterslabor income a year. Since [[property tax]] revenue collected from properties The center also estimated an additional $124 million in the CRA district also includes millage levied by [[Escambia County]]initial development and construct impact, another referendum for all county voters may be necessaryalong with 1, according to a legal interpretation by [[Pensacola City Attorney]] [[John Fleming]]694 jobs and $51 million in labor income.<ref>Sheila Ingram. "Park plan may return to ballotpraised." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 13March 20, 20072005.</ref> Former finance professor and park critic [[C. C. Elebash]] has claimed the economic impact will be closer to $39 million.<ref name="plansrevised"/>

==External linksOwnership & administration==*The Community Maritime Park will be administered by the non-profit [[http://wwwCommunity Maritime Park Associates]] (CMPA), which will be responsible for the development, operation and maintenance of the park.ci.pensacola.fl.us/live/pages.asp?pageID=6112 The [[City of Pensacola website] - Official documents and ] retains ownership of the property, which it will lease to the CMPA Board minutes/agendas*[http://wwwfor 60 years at $1 a year (a figure often used in accounting to represent a transfer of control).propensacola.com ProPensacolaAll net revenue received from leases will be deposited back into the city's budget, and the city will own all buildings and other improvements located on the property after the lease expires.com]*[http://uwf.edu/maritime/ UWF site for the Maritime Museum]

==ReferencesExternal links, references & notes==*[http://cityofpensacola.com/live/pages.asp?pageID=6112 City of Pensacola]*[http://www.communitymaritimepark.com/ Friends of the Pensacola Bay Area's Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park] – Official volunteer group{{reflist|3}}

[[Category:Community Maritime Park| ]][[Category:Community Redevelopment Agency]][[Category:Parks]]