Before & After: San Marco Square's Balis Park

[Metro Jacksonville]

Before & After: San Marco Square's Balis Park



Metro Jacksonville takes a before and after look at the transformation of San Marco Square's Balis Park.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-aug-before-after-san-marco-squares-balis-park

[Noone]

Very nice. Looks like a rectangle shape. Did you gain more on street parking with the design?

[Charles Hunter]

Did the lions move, or does it look that way just because the 'before' and 'after' pics are not framed the same?  Anyway, the new park looks nice ... need to head over and check it out.

[tufsu1]

There are a few more spaces....and the lions were not moved

[Charles Hunter]

Thanks, didn't think so, but some of the angles make it hard to tell as someone not familiar with the area.

[thelakelander]

^Sorry about that.  I originally planned to just show images of the recent conditions.  Then once I went into our photo archives, I decided at the last minute to toss a few shots from year's past.  These graphics should help visual the changes in the space.

Before:


After:




more renderings: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-nov-a-public-square-for-san-marco

[dougskiles]

Here is a rendering that was prepared based on the design and used for fundraising:



Here is what we got:

[exnewsman]

Stopped in SM last Friday for dinner. Park looks great. Lots of street lights were out though.

[jcjohnpaint]

beautiful

[Tacachale]

Definitely one of the most impressive projects Jax has seen recently. Definitely a much different and better atmosphere than just a few months ago.

[hightowerlover]

Glad they scrapped the palm trees in that green patch by the lions

[ProjectMaximus]

Yeah I love it, and all the roundabouts down San Marco Blvd.

Doug, where was that photo taken from?

[PeeJayEss]

Anyone know if the STOP sign at Balis Place turning onto westbound San Marco Blvd or eastbound Atlantic Blvd was supposed to stay? It seems they eliminated the ability to go straight across to San Marco Place past the firehouse, so that leave left and right turn options, both of which have a dedicated lane. Even if they didn't, I would think Balis would have the right of way.

Also, were the roundabouts put in for aesthetic purposes or to slow traffic down? I wouldn't think Landon or Naldo would have sufficient traffic to justify disrupting the flow of San Marco Blvd, otherwise.

[dougskiles]

Doug, where was that photo taken from?

Photo taken by Grant Ward and his flying camera.  See more of his photos here:
www.bluedogaerial.com

[Bill Hoff]

Great job!