Reneway 2011

This blog site has been dormant for the past two years. But we are revitalizing it...to begin the planning and design and support for more parks in Mayport. More news will follow shortly when more information becomes available. We hope to partner with the City of Jax, schools, parks, associations, and residents. We are considering creating a "Friends of Mayport Parks" to help create and sustain our community interest and support of parks and beach access in our area of North Beaches.

Several items of interest have happened and we will be reporting more information as info is available. In the meantime, Ray Holt is still our rep. Bill Guilliford was elected to represent the rest of the Beaches. But as those of us who live in Mayport Village and North Beach, you know that we are in need of attention and support. And that is why we are here.

Please let others know about this site so the can gather information and write comments. And when we are ready to action...we have a strong base of support.

Yours in nature, parks, and play, Karen Kempf

PS Please feel free to write or call me! kempf99@gmail.com or 904/6106107

Parkland Saved! But what's Next?

The Parkland was saved! Basically, and depending on who you talk to, Vestcorp withdrew, AND the city found out that the land was protected by the US Parks since the land was purchased with US federal grant money. It couldn't be assigned to housing for development!

So the land sits undeveloped off of Mayport Rd. Now the next question is...What's next? What do we want? We can develop a plan with the city and then seek to have it implemented. At some point, we'll need money if we want to turn this into a neighborhood park. But the push will have to come from you...from us...if this is to happen. We'll need pressure on our city council member. We'll need to request assisstance from city parks planning. But it's all possible and doable. IF we want to come together and move forward. Now the land can be as it is. Fenced and protected. And that's a good thing. But we are locked out and can't use it for ...community gardens, center, trails, play area, etc. If you would like something to happen, please let us know!

Mayport Happenings and a Dream of a Park

We all know that big things are happening here in Mayport - maybe some good and others not so good.

• There is the Wonderwood flyover to the Navy base.
• There is the 'full press' JaxPort shipping/cruise terminal.
• There is the nuclear carrier/submarine decision.
• There is talk of condemnation of land north of Wonderwood for more Navy housing.
• More homeland security.
• Mayport Village is being compressed on all sides.

Mayport Corridor will undergo dramatic changes if only one or two of these things happen.

On Nov. 8th, we'll have the opportunity to 'save our parkland' by envisioning our park and making it a reality. And we'll also have to grapple with our relationship to Atlantic Beach, Marsh Oaks [the west side of Mayport Rd] and what's left of North Beaches/Mayport Jacksonville city. Are we going to be another selvage community that's been split and fractured by line drawing, road building, security gates, and district demographics. How can we have cohesion when a center does not hold, let alone found? Are we ships passing in the night? Pocket flip-flop neighborhoods? Where's the glue?

The Nov. 8, Saturday 9-4 pm. forum at the USO on Mayport Rd. might be a good time and good place to talk about this. Breakfast and lunch will be available. Why not come and spend some time talking about who we are and what we want for those of us who live north of the AB boundary. Where do we want to belong? And how can we make it so?

A dream of a park. Maybe a community center would be a good start? Come find out!

City Withdraws Application and THANK YOU!

A hugh thank you to all who showed up at the Community Meeting at the USO on Thursday night! We filled the place up! And had a lot to say about this parkland...and why we should keep it. The big news that Council Member Holt broke at the front of the meeting is that the City Housing Dept. has withdrawn its application for land use change and rezoning! For the time being. Land use changes come up periodically. We need to make sure this land comes off the list of surplus land for 'conversion' to other uses.

We asked for CM Holt's support in having this property reassigned to the Recreation Dept. "I hope so" was his commitment. So it's not over yet. We need to have the land assigned to Recreation and we need to continue to PUSH for park development. The City needs to open the land up for community use. We can start to do this by attening the visioning session at the USO on Nov. 8th. Read more on this all day session in the next posting!

Once again, good work! And thanks to all of you who have supported this effort to SAVE R PARK!

From Donna Edwards 10/22/08

Today I received an update from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This department has oversight on all Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants. These federal grants to acquire park land or develop parks come with conditions of in perpetuity. The land in question has been confirmed to be included in the boundary that was set as Hanna Park so this means the city is required to get the permission of the Department of the Interior to do anything other than park or recreation open space with this parcel PRIOR TO ANY CHANGE. In almost 3 years of developing this project, the city has not addressed this requirement. Yesterday, the DEP sent their investigative inquiry to Mayor Peyton's office and other city officials. The City has 7 days to respond. Today, I received a copy of an email and letter from Vestcor to Ms. Wight Greger, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Dev. stating they wished to have the application for rezoning of the Hanna Park land withdrawn, siting financial market changes making the project not as viable now. Ms. Greger has three other bids on this project so it is hard to say if they will take a fall back position on bidder #2 which is Finlay Developers or if in light of the recent DEP inquiry will let it die some natural death.
These recent developments in no way mean we can consider the issue over. We need to go to the meeting tomorrow night with as much enthusiasm and confidence as we can to let CM Holt know that we wish to see the parkland TRANSFERRED BACK to Parks and Recreation, and a commitment from him to partner with Hanna, our community and others to develop this land into an active park for our neighborhood. I have a promise from DEP that as they complete the investigation and instruct the City on their responsibility to the Department of the Interior they will keep me informed and will send us documentation of this vitally important covenant on the 9 acres. I have asked for written confirmation so that each of our associations will have a record for their files. I want to thank those of you who have worked so hard to get these details together. It has been a lot of work in a short period of time. We have every reason to be very proud of such tremendous efforts. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.

Vestcor Withdraws!

Have you heard? Vestcor has just pulled its plug for the low income housing development on this Hanna Parkland! They said it was not longer economically feasible. But you know what I think? I think they know how much resistance and blow-back they will get from continuing this process of a park land-grab. This is great news! Now all we have to do is convince the city to help us grow an active park in the Mayport west end of the property and continue to nurture the wetlands. Come show your support for parkland by calling your city council member, by calling Mayor Peyton's office, by call the City Recreation Director. Just tell them, "We want our park!"

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!
Finally, we get to talk with Councilman Holt here in Mayport, just a stone's throw from the Hanna parkland we are trying to keep for our community. I know it's locked up now, but won't be for long! Come and speak to how important it is that this land be used for that which it was purchased and intended....A PARK! 6:30 at the USO. Fill the seats to the rafters. See you there.