PACE — Santa Rosa County and West Florida Regional Planning Council officials have begun taking resident input on a bicycle and pedestrian plan for Pace and Pea Ridge.
Visitors completed surveys and response cards and drew on maps to show where they would like to see sidewalks and bike paths during a focus group Tuesday at Benny Russell Park.
The project area is bound on the north by Luther Fowler Road, on the south by Sterling Way, on the west by the county boundary and on the east by Tanglewood Road, along with Suwane Road, Creek Lane and Shell Road.
Project manager Cynthia Cannon, a senior planner with Santa Rosa County, said the effort focuses on need for more walkable and bike-friendly paths in the Pace and Pea Ridge area — like "a safe way to the new Publix," she said.
Mark Calvert, Subway franchise owner and member of the West Florida Wheelmen Cycling Club, said he's lived in Pace for 30 years and has anticipated a project like this.
"This isn't about just recreation," Calvert said. "The benefit of this is people will have an alternate way to work. I have employees who need to ride to work."
Some roads are too narrow for bike riders and Calvert said some, like Chumuckla Highway and Berryhill Road, lack pedestrian access. Calvert also said the sidewalk added around Spencer Field was a "huge benefit to students who go to Pace (High School)."
Sam Parker, incoming Santa Rosa County District 1 commissioner, said he's interested to see how people respond to the project and wants to see more people participate in focus groups.
Parker said new sidewalks weren't a hot topic when he was campaigning but he would like to see more for safe commuting.
WHAT: Pace and Pea Ridge bicycle and pedestrian plan focus groups
WHEN: Noon Nov. 2 and 6 p.m. Nov. 3
WHERE: Santa Rosa County Development Services Media Room, 6051 Old Bagdad Highway, Milton, and Pace Fire Rescue District Training Room, 4773 Pace Patriot Blvd., Pace, respectively
IF YOU GO
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: County begins study for bicycle-pedestrian plan