16-05-2025
Bay County transforming Issac Byrd Park
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Issac Byrd Park was once a beloved community meeting point. And it will be again.
'Prior to Hurricane Michael, this was a beautiful park where we're currently standing was full of trees. There were pine trees here. There was a lot of shade here for children. There was what you see here behind us didn't exist after Hurricane Michael wiped all that. So really, this a huge improvement on where we are, and where we're going, and how we're going to get there,' Bay County Commissioner Daniel Raffield said.
The park already has a new playground, but the makeover includes a lot more phases.
Parks and recreation officials gathered community input to create a master plan.
'They have a beautiful community out here. They kind of wanted to see swings, more trees planted. They wanted additional playground equipment, obviously shade structures, that's a big deal out here,' Bay County Parks and Recreation Manager Vincent Martin said.
Magnolia and oak trees will once again provide plenty of shade. Work on a new $56,000 picnic pavilion is now in progress.
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'They are currently building out this 25×30 pavilion. The time on this job will be 60 days until it's complete. So that's what we're looking at for the time of completion, on the pavilion here,' Raffield said.
Commissioner Raffield says the upgrades will take place gradually, allowing families to enjoy the park while work progresses.
The plans will also take advantage of the waterfront locations.
It's called Bay County for a reason. Officials say making this area's finest amenity more accessible for residents is going to be a priority in this project.
'We have a dock that will be here, FYI, 2026 for canoes. So if you have a family, come out and go canoeing and have somewhere to tie your boat, and go fishing, you can do all that here at Issac Byrd Park in Lynn Haven,' Raffield added.
The county has around $77,000 budgeted for additional playground equipment to be installed sometime in June.
The conceptual plans also include a walking path with fitness equipment, added parking, a multi-purpose court, and much more.
The money for the Issac Byrd project is coming out of the county's general fund.
Parks and recreation officials are also planning improvements at Zollie Young Park, just south of Highway 390 in Lynn Haven.
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