FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 26, 2016
DEP AWARDS GRANT TO
ESCAMBIA COUNTY FOR BOB SIKES PIER, PARKING AND TRAIL RESTORATION
~Project seeks to enhance the public's access to and enjoyment of
natural resources~
Upgrades to Bob Sikes fishing pier and surrounding trail on Santa Rosa Island will
improve public access.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection awarded nearly $1 million in grant
funding to Escambia County for the Bob Sikes Pier, Parking and Trail
Restoration Project. The project will improve access and enhance the experience
for recreational users at the fishing pier located on Santa Rosa Island.
"We are pleased to partner with Escambia County to improve and
enhance the Bob Sikes Pier and surrounding recreational area,” DEP Deputy
Secretary Drew Bartlett said. “Projects like this are vital to our communities
and increase access to the diverse natural resources Florida has to offer.”
"We are excited about this project that will provide
enhanced safety and access for both Escambia residents and visitors to the fishing
pier and trail restoration,” Escambia County Commission Chairman Grover
Robinson said. “Our goal is to provide the best amenities to enjoy our natural
resources and this project helps us do that. Thank you to the State of Florida
and DEP for supporting this project."
The project will add
solar-powered lighting to illuminate dark areas along the pier and allow for
extended fishing hours. To encourage protection of natural resources and marine
animals while enjoying the pier's recreational benefits, signage will be
added explaining the proper actions to take if a sea turtle should be hooked
while fishing. Minor modifications to the pier and rails will improve accessibility.
Additionally, a half-mile section
of the multi-use trail that connects the fishing
pier to other recreational and commercial areas on the beach will be widened
and enhanced. Other upgrades will
improve traffic flow, the parking area and aesthetics.
Funding was received as part of
an early restoration settlement to offset recreational loss from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil
spill. Following the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, the state
of Florida implemented response operations and emergency restoration. As a
result of the oil spill, the
public's access to and enjoyment of natural resources along Florida's Panhandle
was denied or severely restricted. DEP and the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, in conjunction with select federal agencies, are
responsible for restoring the natural resources impacted by the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill. This recreational use project seeks to enhance and
increase the public’s use and enjoyment of natural resources.
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