Panama City officials continue renovations at Daffin Park

PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB ) — Panama City officials said they’re about halfway done with their renovations to Daffin Park in Millville.

Daffin Park has been desperately in need of upgrades.

“One of the issues I think that’s happened in the past is the maintenance of some of these facilities, it’s just so expensive and no one wants to pay all the taxes to maintain it,” Panama City Quality of Life Director Keith Mefford said. “If you put everything out to bid all the time, your costs are so much more elevated.”

Instead of using a contractor, Panama City crews are doing all the work. Officials said the football field is about 80% complete.

“It’s a full-sized football field where in the past we didn’t have the luxury of having that. Also, we elevated one end about three feet, so the field will actually have a flat field where in the past used to have an advantage, you can run down the hill or up the hill,” Mefford said.

A new baseball field and a basketball court will be on the other side of the park. Improvements are also being completed to the concession stand, clubhouse, and restrooms.

“The way it’s been, you’ve got to throw your kids in a car and you might have to drive 20-30 minutes to get to the park that’s suitable to do those things so to be able to have these pocket parks that are so important in our community is very nice and we just enjoy being able to provide that,” Mefford said.

“Quality of Life is one of the key aspects of the City of Panama City and that means quality of life for all wards, for all neighborhoods, for all people, and so I am glad to champion the efforts to get our neighborhoods cleaned up, to bring resources throughout the community,” Panama City Commissioner Janice Lucas said.

The project will cost about $486,000. All of the work should be completed in three months.

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