Liza Jackson Park renovation project pushed back to mid-September

The $3.1 million project was originally expected to begin Aug. 3 but has been rescheduled to start the week of Sept. 14.
Photo courtesy of the City of FWB

A $3.1 million renovation project at Liza Jackson Park that was originally expected to begin Monday has been rescheduled to start the week of Sept. 14, the city announced.

  • The new timeline puts the project’s start after the Labor Day holiday weekend, which aligns with what city officials said during the Fort Walton Beach City Council’s March 24 meeting, when Public Works Director Daniel Payne said the city planned to hold off on construction so it wouldn’t disrupt summer boating traffic at the park.

When the project begins, the west side of the park at 338 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW and its west entrance will be closed entirely to allow the contractor to stage equipment, deliver materials and load construction debris for removal.

The renovation will include a new 832-square-foot restroom building, new parking for vehicles and boat trailers, a redesigned boat launch traffic area, new sidewalks and stormwater improvements. The project is expected to take approximately six months to complete.

  • The council voted 6-1 in March to award the project to H&T Contractors LLC of Freeport, which submitted the lowest of six bids at roughly $3.14 million.

The project does not include a replacement of the park’s boat ramp, which remains on hold pending a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that has been in the works for more than a year.

Funding for the project will come from the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, the Infrastructure Surtax fund and a $1 million contribution from Okaloosa County through its Tourist Development Tax fund.

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