Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park
Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park represents a rare opportunity to deliver vital open space for the community, provide stormwater infrastructure that reduces flooding on both sides of the site, and acknowledge local history by honoring Hollice T. Williams and the neighborhood displacement caused by Interstate 110’s construction in the 1970s. Like many landscapes shaped by 20th-century “progress,” the site is a residual space often overlooked as a community asset. Yet within its 88 acres lies the potential to transform daily life for residents, while also serving as a regional destination that generates economic value for the city.
The HTWP and LHP sites sit just half a mile north of downtown Pensacola. To the east lies the historic Eastside Neighborhood, a resilient and vibrant Black community that took shape after the Jim Crow era. To the west is the Long Hollow Neighborhood, a blend of commercial and residential uses named for its location on early city maps as a low-lying strip between surrounding hills.
Construction of Interstate-110 in the 1970s
Separating HTWP from Long Hollow is Long Hollow Pond, an engineered stormwater basin that captures floodwaters flowing south from the uplands.
Hollice T. Williams, for whom the park will be named, was Pensacola’s first African American City Councilman in the post-Civil War era. Appointed in 1970 and subsequently reelected, he served six terms on the City Council, where he was known as a thoughtful and respected leader.
Previous 5-Year Vehicular, Pedestrian, and Cyclist Crash Map (left) and Interstate Pier Height Clearance from Finish Grade (right)
Together, the location and configuration of the two sites create an unconventional setting for a city park. Spanning 88 acres in total, the parcels are adjacent but divided by CSX railroad tracks. The heart of the park encompasses 53 acres, extending 1.3 miles beneath the overhead lanes of I-110. While most of the open space lies between the interstate’s elevated piers, portions of the park extend beyond the highway’s edge.
Establish Safe Pedestrian Neighborhood Connections (left) and Prioritize Pedestrian Connectivity to and through the Park (right)
Long Hollow Pond Looking South
Provide Stormwater Storage, Conveyance, and Treatment (left) and Active Uses Edge the Park; Passive Uses Occupy the Interior (right)
The park offers a generational opportunity to reduce flooding, reconnect a divided community, and honor the neighborhood displaced by I-110. Transforming these 88 acres is both a challenge and an inspiration, requiring a vision rooted in respect for the past and shaped through inclusive, ongoing community engagement.
The design team and City engaged the surrounding neighborhoods, stakeholder groups, municipal and agency officials, churches, community groups, and park users. Throughout a 90-day Visioning Phase, the team held three (3) monthly public engagement meetings, along with dozens of small-group meetings, workshops, and neighborhood updates.
