NAVARRE —If you want to know what’s happening in the community, venture down to Navarre Park and you’re sure to find out.
Although Navarre doesn’t have an official town square, the waterfront park overlooking Santa Rosa Sound certainly functions as one.
“It’s the very center of town,” said local Realtor Bart Pullum. “It’s one of the most picturesque and beautiful scenes in all of Northwest Florida. … It leaves a lasting impression.”
The park has become more popular in recent years, thanks to upgraded amenities, more restaurants nearby and more people living in and visiting the Navarre area.
“It’s just flourishing with family activity,” Pullum said. “It’s been a great, great thing for the community.”
The 5-acre strip of land parallel to U.S. Highway 98 not only is home to the John Duncan Memorial Children’s Park, the Santa Rosa County Visitors Center and the Panhandle Butterfly House, it serves as ground zero for the area’s top festivals, holiday celebrations and fundraisers.
Residents also can rent the pavilions for parties, family reunions and the like.
For years Navarre Park offered only a basic picnic area.
“For the most part it just wasn’t utilized,” Pullum said.
The park was heavily damaged by back-to-back hurricanes Ivan and Dennis in 2004 and 2005. By 2006, Pullum’s wife, Rebecca, and other members of a local chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi service organization raised money to upgrade the children’s playground with a splash pad and new equipment. Santa Rosa County also contributed money to the project.
“I think the playground and the splash pad really became an anchor for the park, and it’s allowing folks to utilize other parts of the park,” Pullum said.
The park also features a dock, boardwalk, basketball court and a performance stage behind the Visitors Center.
It has been overflowing with visitors this summer for Thursdays in the Park, hosted by the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
The free concert series, which runs through Aug. 8, is in its fifth year, said Chanda Ryan, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing.
“We see people of all ages,” she said, “We’ve even had people come by boat.”
Ryan said the park is vital because if offers people a variety of activities.
“There’s not a lot to do other than the beach in Navarre,” she said. “(The park) is beautiful. You’ve got the breeze blowing. It’s right there on the water. It’s like the heart of Navarre.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.