The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Task Order 1 for a not-to-exceed amount of $372,110 with Mott MacDonald for engineering and architectural services related to the development of the Miracle League Field and Playgrounds at Meigs Park in Niceville on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

• The project, a partnership between Okaloosa County and the City of Niceville, aims to revitalize the 4-acre city-owned park with accessibility upgrades and facilities for those with special needs.

The planned improvements include an 8-foot quarter-mile walking track, a 200-foot ball-field, a large ADA-compliant playground, a basketball/volleyball court, and a large pavilion with a quiet room.

“There’s nothing else like it to this degree in the neighboring counties,” said Okaloosa Commissioner Mel Ponder during a presentation to the Niceville City Council in December 2023. “Hopefully it will be a good win for the people here at home, but also for anyone who wants to come into Okaloosa County and have fun there and enjoy what we have.”

The project will be funded by a combination of a $1.25 million legislative appropriation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), up to $750,000 from the county’s Tourist Development District (TDD) funds, and contributions from the City of Niceville.

• The city will provide permitting assistance, general oversight, ongoing maintenance, ensure compliance with grant funding conditions, add parking, and new bathrooms.

According to Public Works Director Jason Autrey, the services provided by Mott MacDonald include full design for civil, architectural, on-street parking, and ball fields.

“We are very excited to see this project move forward. It will certainly be a capstone park for our communities,” Autrey said during the meeting.

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners and the City of Niceville entered into an interlocal agreement on January 16, 2024, to jointly develop Meigs Park into an ADA Miracle League style facility.

The approval of Task Order 1 marks the first step toward project development, with Mott MacDonald set to perform all design and permitting elements outlined in the agreement.