Panama City's first State of the City put rebuilding above $300 million. Next year: Robinson Bayou drainage, the Tarpon Dock Drawbridge and 22 miles of road.
Panama City has more than $300 million in major rebuilding projects underway, City Manager Jonathan Hayes said at the city’s first State of the City address Thursday.
The address ran at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda, followed by an open house with department directors and staff. The city summarized it in a release posted Friday. The theme was the move “from recovery to renewal” after Hurricanes Michael and Sally.
The big projects
Hayes named these as the projects shaping the city now:
- Downtown Panama City Marina: the first 50 boat slips, in the western basin, are the initial step toward a larger marina redevelopment.
- St. Andrews Marina: a restoration of nearly $25 million, expanding capacity and restoring facilities at the working waterfront.
- The Martin Theatre, Tennessee House and The Ritz: being redeveloped together as a downtown cultural destination, with completion projected for fall 2027.
- Neighborhood infrastructure: roads, water and sewer lines, drainage and sidewalks in downtown, the Cove, Glenwood, Millville and other neighborhoods.
What is planned for 2027
The city listed three pieces of work for next year:
- improvements to Robinson Bayou drainage
- the Tarpon Dock Drawbridge
- about 22 miles of roadway, through FEMA-supported recovery work
The release did not give start dates, costs or closure plans for any of the three.
The budget
The city said its adopted budget for fiscal 2027 puts rebuilding financial reserves first. It also aims to control operating spending and keep investing in infrastructure. Police, fire, public works and parks and recreation services are to be sustained.
The release also pointed to the Harrison Avenue Streetscape Project, finished in November 2025. It was a finalist for the 2026 Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award. The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center was nominated for an American Institute of Architects People’s Choice Award.
“The state of the City is reflected not only in the projects completed or underway, but also in what those investments make possible for the people who call Panama City home,” Hayes said.
What it means for you
- Watch it yourself. The full address is on the City of Panama City YouTube channel.
- Expect more road and drainage work. Twenty-two miles of roadway work and the Robinson Bayou project are on the 2027 list. Our road construction and closures page tracks closures as the city announces them.
- Downtown keeps changing. The theater block is not due to finish until fall 2027. Our guide to historic downtown Panama City covers what is open now.
- Questions for the city go to the departments listed on our who to call at City Hall page.
Frequently asked questions
When was Panama City’s first State of the City address?
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda, followed by an open house with department directors and staff.
Where can I watch the Panama City State of the City address?
The city posted a recording on its official YouTube channel, youtube.com/@PanamaCity11.
What projects does Panama City plan for 2027?
The city named Robinson Bayou drainage improvements, work on the Tarpon Dock Drawbridge and about 22 miles of roadway through FEMA-supported recovery work.
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