City proposes "children's zone" for Beaver Street

[thelakelander]

New Town Success Zone: Answer is waiting

Note to readers: The Times-Union Editorial Page is examining urban issues facing Jacksonville by looking closely at communities proposed for a children's zone, the areas of New Town near the Farmer's Market and Eugene Butler Middle School and Grand Park near Edward Waters College.

Roberta Wilson recalls when Beaver Street used to offer what people needed in surrounding west Jacksonville neighborhoods.

Things like a shoe store, movie theater, restaurants and gas stations. But that was decades ago.

Today, Beaver Street is more of a drive through than a destination. The Farmer's Market is just about the only reason to visit the area.

Most residents have to venture miles away for basics that many people in Jacksonville can reach from a short drive in any direction.

"We could use a (full-service) grocery store. We could use a little gas station if we could get it," said Wilson, who is active in the Robinson's Addition Neighborhood Association. "And a Dollar General store would be nice."

And for more reasons than just the obvious ones.

The city is pushing to develop a special children's zone that borders part of Beaver Street from Myrtle Avenue west to an overpass.

The idea behind the New Town Success Zone is to help at-risk youths and their families receive services from pre-school to high school that can help them improve their circumstances and their chances for success in life - and improve the area along with it.

As part of that effort to improve quality of life, youths and their families would benefit immensely from having more job opportunities and shopping options that are nearer to them.

And that's where Beaver Street - arguably the area's closest thing to a main street - could come in.

full editorial: http://www.jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2009-04-05/story/new_town_success_zone_answer_is_waiting