Escambia County and Pensacola State College are excited to announce the grand opening ceremony of the newest section of the Southwest Greenway on Friday, January 18, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the Pensacola State College Warrington Campus, 555 West Highway 98. Parking will also be available at 198 Patton Drive.
This portion of the trail system is located along the north bank of Jones Creek extending west from Navy Boulevard at the Highway 98 intersection to the northern terminus of Brigadier Street off Patton Drive. The project included 3,100 linear feet of elevated boardwalk, two spanned pedestrian crossings over Jones Creek and two connections to the Pensacola State College Warrington Campus. The project cost was $395,000 and was funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
When eventually complete, the Southwest Greenway will extend 12 miles across the county connecting Bayou Chico and Perdido Bay.
During the ceremony and in conjunction with Arbor Day, Pensacola State College President, Dr. Edward Meadows, will donate trees to be planted on the Campus. Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Forestry Service (FFS) will also be giving away seedling trees. Species include Crabapple, Mayhaw, Cherrybark Oak, River Birch, Wax Myrtle and Bald Cypress. Participants will receive two tree seedlings of their choice.
Extension Agents and Master Gardeners will be available to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
For more information about the Southwest Greenway project, please contact Brent Wipf, Environmental Program Manager and for information on the tree giveaway, please contact county arborist Jimmie Jarratt at 595-3535.
