Infrastructure is the basic, underlying, or fundamental features of a system.
Investments in infrastructure often affect and improve a wide variety of services. Funding is normally derived from multiple sources including state grants, federal grants, local taxes, and user fees. Many infrastructure projects are large investments financed over many years that provide essential services and enhanced quality of life to citizens. They often entail cooperation, shared expenses, and planning between federal, state, and local authorities.
Below is an image depicting Santa Rosa County's current and recent infrastructure priorities as listed in its budget documents:
Investments in infrastructure often affect and improve a wide variety of services. Funding is normally derived from multiple sources including state grants, federal grants, local taxes, and user fees. Many infrastructure projects are large investments financed over many years that provide essential services and enhanced quality of life to citizens. They often entail cooperation, shared expenses, and planning between federal, state, and local authorities.
Below is an image depicting Santa Rosa County's current and recent infrastructure priorities as listed in its budget documents:
The Preserve Navarre Nonprofit is currently conducting a survey to identify and prioritize potential infrastructure projects for its upcoming feasibility study.
Link: www.PreserveNavarre.com/infrastructure
Below is additional information concerning potential infrastructure opportunities for a city of Navarre to prioritize. These opportunities were identified through budget comparisons, reviews of previous proposals, research of other cities, and citizen engagement completed by the Preserve Navarre Nonprofit:
Park Investments and New / Additional Parks
In July 2019 Santa Rosa County Commissioners approved $3.3 million for an overhaul of Navarre Park. The project has encountered multiple delays but is currently underway with $1.11 listed in budget reporting to date.
A current example of city-led infrastructure investments in parks and recreation includes the town of Jay's Bray-Hendricks Park Project. The town of Jay secured $1 million from federal, state, and nonprofit resources which was matched by Santa Rosa County. The park plan calls for a new outdoor fitness center, two t-ball fields, five little league fields (four 200-feet and one 300-feet), two concession stands, three soccer fields, two tennis courts, two basketball courts, one football field, a splash pad, amphitheater, bathrooms and a maintenance building.
An investment by a city of Navarre would add additional funding and establish local planning and direction for new and existing park projects in Navarre.
Source: http://www.northescambia.com/2021/08/santa-rosa-commits-1-million-to-help-fund-new-3-million-park-in-jay
Road Expansion and Resurfacing
Santa Rosa County budget documents indicate there has been funding for two road improvement infrastructure projects since 2018. These include the Navarre Common Access Road Project (feasibility study) and the Godwin Connector (hiking trail).
A feasibility study was completed for a Navarre Common Access Road in 2019. The project does not appear to be currently active.
Locally, there are multiple city-led road improvement projects underway and recently completed. They include Milton's streetscape project (trees and lamppost additions to US Route 7), Gulf Breeze's multimodal overpasses on US 98, Pensacola's resurfacing of 119 miles of streets and addition of roadway lighting, and Jay's repaving of Highway 4.
An investment by a city of Navarre would lead to similar road improvement projects with scope dependent upon prioritization.
Sources:
(1) https://www.wkrg.com/northwest-florida/navarre-community-access-road-would-help-drivers-avoid-highway-98/
(2) https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/397/Budget
Locally, there are multiple city-led road improvement projects underway and recently completed. They include Milton's streetscape project (trees and lamppost additions to US Route 7), Gulf Breeze's multimodal overpasses on US 98, Pensacola's resurfacing of 119 miles of streets and addition of roadway lighting, and Jay's repaving of Highway 4.
An investment by a city of Navarre would lead to similar road improvement projects with scope dependent upon prioritization.
Sources:
(1) https://www.wkrg.com/northwest-florida/navarre-community-access-road-would-help-drivers-avoid-highway-98/
(2) https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/397/Budget
Stormwater and Flood Mitigation
Santa Rosa County budget documents indicate funding for several stormwater projects in recent years with Pace and Gulf Breeze receiving the majority of funds for these projects.
There are multiple local cities investing in stormwater management infrastructure projects.
In June 2021 the city of Gulf Breeze approved a 20-year loan to invest a total of $18 million to make the city more resilient to flooding and storms. The project includes burying power lines, multimodal overpasses, and investments in its West Basin project.
In 2014 the city of Pensacola partnered with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to receive funding to renovate the 37-acre Bill Gregory Park. These renovations included restoring the park and upgrading it to be more resilient to future storms and flooding.
An investment by a city of Navarre would focus on similar infrastructure projects to build stormwater and flooding resiliency in the community with a focus on the areas most susceptible to flooding.
Sources:
(1) https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2021/07/02/gulf-breeze-spend-18-million-bury-power-lines-build-overpasses/7823707002/
(2) https://www.cityofpensacola.com/2745/Bill-Gregory-Park-Stormwater-Project
Sidewalk Investments
The most prominent local example of a recent infrastructure project involving sidewalks is the city of Milton's sidewalk gap project.
The project began in 2016 when the city of Milton applied for and received a federal grant of $850,000 and collected the remaining funding through impact fees. Additional projects have followed involving both Milton and Pace including the Hamilton Bridge Road sidewalk project. These projects have also included funding from Santa Rosa County along with additional federal funding.
An investment by a city of Navarre would include applications for federal, state, and county funding to begin a Navarre sidewalk gap project.
Sources:
(1) https://www.miltonindependent.com/news/when-will-the-new-sidewalk-construction-be-completed/article_7042a45f-29ad-5aec-b006-4e45cc004744.html
(2) https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/01/17/sidewalk-construction-milton-and-pace-part-larger-project/4488434002/
The project began in 2016 when the city of Milton applied for and received a federal grant of $850,000 and collected the remaining funding through impact fees. Additional projects have followed involving both Milton and Pace including the Hamilton Bridge Road sidewalk project. These projects have also included funding from Santa Rosa County along with additional federal funding.
An investment by a city of Navarre would include applications for federal, state, and county funding to begin a Navarre sidewalk gap project.
Sources:
(1) https://www.miltonindependent.com/news/when-will-the-new-sidewalk-construction-be-completed/article_7042a45f-29ad-5aec-b006-4e45cc004744.html
(2) https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/01/17/sidewalk-construction-milton-and-pace-part-larger-project/4488434002/
Beach Access and Navarre Bridge
Santa Rosa County began initial planning for a replacement of Navarre Beach Causeway (Bridge) in the spring of 2021 by directing staff to identify companies to perform a feasibility study. Some estimates indicate the project could cost from $80 to $120 million.
An investment by a city of Navarre would involve the city taking an important role in the project including collaborating with county, state, and federal agencies to determine funding sources for the project, planning, and execution.
Source: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2021/04/23/santa-rosa-county-florida-first-step-120-million-navarre-beach-bridge/7338931002/
An investment by a city of Navarre would involve the city taking an important role in the project including collaborating with county, state, and federal agencies to determine funding sources for the project, planning, and execution.
Source: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2021/04/23/santa-rosa-county-florida-first-step-120-million-navarre-beach-bridge/7338931002/
Downtown Area Investments
Planning has previously been initiated for a "Heart of Navarre Overlay District." A prioritization of this infrastructure investment would revitalize efforts to provide updated planning, secure funding, and incentivize commercial options to the center of Navarre.
Sources:
(1) https://plan4district4.com/project-overview.html
(2) https://plan4district4.com/images/docs/sr_d4_mp_updated.pdf
(3) https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/305/Land-Development-Code-Article-60524-PDF
(1) https://plan4district4.com/project-overview.html
(2) https://plan4district4.com/images/docs/sr_d4_mp_updated.pdf
(3) https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/305/Land-Development-Code-Article-60524-PDF