The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 23, at 4 p.m. to officially unveil the newly-constructed children’s playground on “Mom’s Beach.” The new play park is located just north of Key Sailing within the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, overlooking the Santa Rosa Sound.
The Shady Acres playground set, measuring 52 feet long by 34 feet wide and 6 feet tall, features tube slides, regular slides, a platform with double crawl, flower spinners, bongos and is completely shaded under a giant umbrella awning. Additionally, it is conveniently located near picnic pavilions and public restrooms.
“This playground promotes physical and cognitive development for children ages 5 to 12,” said Leigh Davis, Executive Director of the SRIA. “The new amenity is a perfect addition to the island offering a shore-side activity immediately adjacent to bay-side water access. It’s a perfect spot for anyone with young kids.”
The park’s location at Mom’s Beach on the sound side provides a calm, shallow water access point for young kids to safely wade and play in, and a lifeguard on duty nearby. The playground is also located in close proximity to plenty of other water sport activities and restaurants along the boardwalk.
SRIA Chairman Thomas Campanella plans to speak briefly on Wednesday at the ribbon cutting. Other representatives from the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, Escambia County, and Baskerville-Donovan will be in attendance.
Three other playgrounds can also be found on the Pensacola Beach. Those are located at Harry Gowens Park, Crowley Park and Park West. These nautical and marine-themed play spaces fit right in on the Gulf Coast. The SRIA encourages visitors to explore and enjoy all of the playgrounds, as well as other public amenities on the island.
