Near the corner of Hwy 79 and Back Beach Road in Panama City Beach, the Frank Brown Park sports park and recreation complex is quickly becoming a mecca for athletes and sporting events. The area’s mild weather creates ideal conditions for year-round activities, and the nearby beach is certainly also a draw for the many tournaments who are building a successful following here. But more than that, it’s the 200+ acre sports complex and facilities, along with the many activities provided by the staff of Frank Brown Park that keep locals and groups from across the Southeast flocking to Frank Brown Park.
Turning into the park (16200 Panama City Beach Pkwy.), the visitor will immediately begin to understand just how big the complex is. The outdoor Aquatics center first catches the eye, with a kid-friendly play area featuring slides, fountains, and a zero-entry kiddy pool, but for the serious swimmers there’s an olympic sized lap pool, complete with a deep end featuring two 1-meter springboards and a professional team of lifeguards. The aquatic center also offers swim lessons for all ages, birthday parties, certification classes, and more.
Frank Brown park also features a number of baseball, softball, and T-ball diamonds. With one field (the Miracle League field) specially designed and built to allow disabled athletes to compete. In all, there are 9 softball or baseball diamonds and 2 T-ball diamonds, making this a popular spot for spring and summer baseball or softball tournaments.
Frank Brown park’s facilities also include 3 soccer fields and 4 "multi-purpose" football fields, along with 4 tennis courts and 2 outdoor basketball courts. In 2011, the "Endless Summer" soccer tournament brought nearly 100 teams to Frank Brown Park, and the event is expected to be even bigger in 2012.
For those less interested in organized sports, or just looking for a good spot to let your dog run off-leash, Frank Brown Park has you covered there, too, with miles of jogging trails and greenways, a freshwater fishing pond, and a fenced-in dog park - all available free of charge!
For more information on Frank Brown Park, call (850) 233-5045, e-mail info@playballinparadise.com, or visit their official website, www.playballinparadise.com