MLK Jr. Rec Center Rebuild Progress
PANAMA CITY, FL- Panama City’s beloved MLK Jr. Recreation Center is currently being rebuilt following its destruction from Hurricane Michael in 2018. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2024 to celebrate the beginning of the construction project. On April 30, 2024, the building permit was issued for the center. Since then, many on-site projects have been completed and are currently underway.
As of May 10, 2024, the following on-site projects have been completed:
- Installation of construction fence
- Removal of a double wide mobile home
- Silt fence and erosion control
- Earthwork for the sheet pile wall
- Capping off existing water mains
- Camera inspections of existing sewer lines
Crews have begun working on the construction entrance and retention pond. They are also continuing tree removal, clearing and grubbing. The sheet pile installation has started, too.
Over the next 30 days, more work will be done. Some of that includes but is not limited to:
- Completion of the sheet pile driving installation
- Installation of the cap and waler system on the sheet pile wall
- Backfilling of the sheet pile wall
- Building pad construction
- Rammed aggregate piles for gymnasium building
- Delivery of the storm water and sanitary sewer pipe and structures to the job site
Project construction will take about 18 months to complete. The grand opening of the MLK Jr. Recreation Center is projected for mid-to-late 2025.
Angela Small
Radio Production Assistant
