The Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ Hawkins Park is over a half-mile east of Carpenter’s Park. In April, the Press Gazette reported Rep. Doug Broxson’s office had been working on renovating the park with help from an $80,000 state grant.
Thursday, passersby may have noticed piles of dead vegetation and picnic pavilions receiving work.
Michelle Tait, who works in Broxson’s office, said the Agency for Persons with Disabilities put out a bid to have the pavilions and bath house repaired, with a targeted June 30 completion date. She said the grounds, sidewalks, parking lot and boardwalk are also scheduled for cleaning.
Tait also noted RESPECT of Florida, a nonprofit providing employment opportunities to the disabled, will maintain the grounds and restrooms and open the park daily.
“We’ve been working on (the park) a few years … Part of the problem is it has been vandalized repeatedly. It’s part of what caused the park to be closed,” she said.
Tait also said the park’s disrepair caused it to lose Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, but Broxson’s office and the agency are working to correct this.
Tait could not say yet when the park will reopen.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Hawkins Park in Milton is being restored