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 has withdrawn its application for land use change and rezoning!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.

Pass this Blogspot on! Comments Welcomed!

Please email this blog to your friends. Write comments. Ask questions. Get involved. Let us know what you think!

What can I do now?

While we are waiting to hear more about a community meeting, you may be wondering, "What can I do?" Well, you can contact Councilmember Holt and let him know we want to keep Hanna Parkland on Mayport Rd. for a PARK! MORE housing can not be built in Mayport without MORE parks for our children! Two small neighborhood parks are not enough for 12,000 residents of our area. We need a community center and playing fields.

You can let Wight Greger, Director of Housing know that this land should not be apartments, but should be a PARK! Ask her to withdraw her application for land use change and rezoning. Give the land back to Recreation for an active park!

To contact Ray Holt email holt@coj.net or call 630-1383.
To contact Wight Greger call 255-8261.

Meeting to be Rescheduled

As you probably know, the meeting on October 2 was cancelled by Councilperson Holt. It seems that proper notice was not given for the meeting, which I as a near homeowner was not notified of, nor was a community meeting sign posted. Thus, no meeting. We are now waiting to hear when the next community meeting will be scheduled. We have also asked our Council Representative to help us have the the application withdrawn. As of this date, Oct. 6, there is no further information. Please take the online poll and let us know what you think. Thanks!

October 2, 6:30 Community Meeting - Gotta Come!

Councilmember Ray Holt, District 11 [that's us] is hosting a community meeting to comment on the proposed "Jarrod Landing" apartments on Mayport Rd, just north of The Courtyards. He may want to talk about apartments...but WE want to talk about a PARK!

Thursday October 2, 6:30 pm
USO - 2560 Mayport Rd.

PLEASE ATTEND - bring yourself, your family, your friends! Adults, kids, babies are all welcomed to attend. As many people as possible need to fill the room and show our concern for this land use change from Recreation and Open Space to Residential 3-story apartments. Let Holt, Greger [Director of Housing and Neighborhood Dept] and Recreation know that we will not abide this change. We need PARKS for Mayport. We want this Hanna Parkland to be developed and we want MORE parks! We want a staffed community center. We want playing fields for our kids and adults! We want soccer, baseball, volleyball, tennis, basketball - lighted and secure facilities for the healthy development of our kids! We want organized sports and activities after school and on weekends. Let's start with this PARK! No new housing without more active recreation and parks! DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN! SHOW UP! The MORE the MERRIER! You don't have to speak if you don't want to. You can fill a chair, wave a sign, chant, shuffle your feet.
BE MAD ABOUT PARKS!

Please RSVP in a comment and let us know how many you are bringing!

Jax Planning Workshop

A small but strong group showed up at the Jax Planning Workshop on Sept 15. Our need for a park and the request for a community meeting was heard loud and clear! Vestcor and attorneys arrived to answer questions.
We have a date - Thursday Oct. 2 and a location USO, 2560 Mayport Rd. at 6:30 for us to finally share our concerns about the land use amendment and rezoning process that has steam-rolled over the needs of our community.
PLEASE ATTEND AND BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Keep visiting this site, get on our email list, so you can stay informed and involved. Be sure to bookmark this page and visit often!

Updates from Donna

Donna, our resident whirlwind, gathers more information than the speed of my internet connection. She's been VERY busy the past week. I'm giving her this space to post her comments and updates on all the latest information she finds. And she'll include action items so that you can get involved if you can't make the community meeting/s. She'll post below in Readers Comments so be sure to take a look if you want the latest and greatest information in our struggle to keep the parkland on Mayport Rd. for parks, recreation and open space...forever.

A Park or Apartments?

WELCOME to the North Jacksonville Beaches and Mayport Blog!

This blog is intended to inform citizens about ways we can support and grow active recreational opportunites for the families of our area. By 'active' recreation, we mean public playing fields, play equipment, and community center programs for the families in our area. Mayport and North Beaches have wonderful 'passive' parks - Dutton Island, Hanna, and the Little Jetties - but we do not have adequate basketball or tennis courts, baseball or soccer fields, recreation programs, or community center for our population.

On Saturday, September 6, more than 20 residents of The Courtyards in Mayport came to a meeting to discuss the City's proposed land use amendment and zoning change for a Recreation and Open Space parcel of land that adjoins The Courtyards and Hanna Park. The City proposes to change this 9 acre parcel to medium-density residential land use. Last fall, a proposal submitted by Vestcor for 80 + apartments was chosen by the city. This proposal will be presented to the Planning Dept. and the public at a Workshop on Sept. 15, at the Courthouse Annex in Jacksonville. The workshop is open to the public. Anyone interested in learning more about what the city is proposing, PLEASE come to this meeting and learn more about the development plans. Plan for a late evening since this amendment is 11th on the agenda.

Residents are also invited to attend the Arlington CPAC meeting on Sept 8 at Regency Center. If you would like to speak to the importance of developing this land for a park, please plan to attend.

Petitions are being circulated by residents for adults and children who support the land use zoning for recreation of this parcel. please take a moment to sign. Or better yet, pick up a couple petitions and get others to support our cause for recreation and parks in Mayport. Comments are welcome here, but it is important that we have original copies of names and addresses to submit.