Cedar Grove conveniently located in the Panama City area
Cedar Grove is a panhandle destination near the heart of Panama City with an interesting history. This community used to be an incorporated town, but after a significant grassroots effort in 2008 it became the first municipality in Florida to be dissolved by a vote of its residents. After the vote, governmental operations and services such as law enforcement were transferred to Bay County.
Officially, Cedar Grove no longer exists. However, its sense of community persists. Young students don’t have to leave the community to attend school, and a single park in the heart of town draws crowds to cheer on young ballplayers. Homeowners enjoy relative seclusion in quiet residential pockets, yet the amenities and attractions of Greater Panama City are easily within reach. “The biggest benefit to living in Cedar Grove is its central location to everything,” says Brook Simmons of Keller Williams Success Realty, who grew up in the community. “It’s about halfway between the beach and Tyndall Air Force Base. And you’re 10 minutes from the heart of Panama City.”
Diverse mix of homes concentrated on the community's south side
Housing options here are a mix of manufactured homes, smaller traditional homes, midcentury ranch-style homes and contemporary model homes. The contemporary offerings include the community’s newest homes. While they are built closer together in a small subdivision setting, the contemporary offerings come standard with driveways and attached garages, a combination not often found elsewhere in the community. Homes are concentrated south and west of Sherman Avenue, which runs through the community. “The northern part of Cedar Grove is more industrial,” Simmons says. “Then there’s the residential and school side.” Prices range from around $120,000 to $350,000 and offer a more affordable alternative within the immediate area. “It’s a little bit cheaper than Lynn Haven,” says Simmons of the city that borders Cedar Grove to the north. Given the proximity to coastal waters, residents should be aware that flooding and wind damage are a major risk during hurricane season, which runs from May through November.
Elementary school in the community
Cedar Grove is served by Bay County Schools, which earns a B-plus from Niche. Young students can attend Cedar Grove Elementary, a C-rated school conveniently located in the community. Nearby Bay High School is rated B-plus. Mowat Middle School is rated B. The high school’s Career & Technical Education program offers specialized classes in subjects as varied as health, digital design and marketing.
Ballpark a long-standing center of community activity
The Hiland Park Sports Complex is the community’s featured attraction. The well-maintained public facility is anchored by four baseball diamonds that surround a concession stand. The complex underwent a significant renovation after it sustained damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018. “The ballfield has always been a big part of the community,” Simmons says. Outside of the community, Lynn Haven Sports Complex offers similar amenities, as well as a gym for basketball and other sports. Residents can fish from the pier at nearby Millville Waterfront Park. The adjacent public boat launch offers access to Watson Bayou, which leads to the Intracoastal Waterway. Gulf coast beaches are about 15 miles away.
Retailers, restaurants, downtown district nearby
Shopping centers that feature a variety of big-box retailers and several restaurants are concentrated nearby along the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard commercial corridor. Downtown Panama City is easily accessible from the community. The brick-paved streets of the historic bayfront district feature a unique mix of boutique shops, art galleries and contemporary dining destinations. Amid those amenities are cultural attractions that include the Panama City Center for the Arts. The center’s Flutter By mural is part of the Panama City Mural Trail, a project that has added to the vibrance of downtown.
Hospital, air force base are easily accessible
Residents can catch the bus on the north and south sides of the neighborhood for travel to nearby points of interest, including Ascension Sacred Heart Bay hospital. Tyndall Air Force Base, one of Bay County’s top employers, is about 10 miles away. It’s about a 22-mile drive to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
Written By
Matt Pallister
