Exposing Hogans Creek

[Noone]

Who's next?

Great conditions in the AM. An epoch opportunity to reclaim FIND projects for 2013. We can put in at Hogan's creek and take it to Sidney Geffen Park. Low tide is at 7 am.

Have a tandem and we can catch the incoming tide. So we can launch at 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9

Who wants to say- VISIT JACKSONVILLE?

[Noone]

Check out images 1,3, and 28

This community just took out the old viaduct South of Bay St. that once carried the Seaboard Coastline Railroad. Not before Waterways. Notice the steps and  potential bicycle rack on the river? Another example of destroying connectivity.

So who wants to kayak Downtown and fish under the brand new no fishing signs?

[Noone]

Sunday 6/24/12 is a unique opportunity to continue to wrap your hands around a unique urban Waterway Destination that Downtown is just not a pass through as it relates to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative. There is a clean up that will take place at 9 am at Washington and Catherine St. I'm All In.

Lake, Ock, the Jacksonville Historical Society I'm not picking on you but I must say that I'm in total shock that not a word from the rail guys about taking out the old viaduct that once carried the Seaboard Coastline Railroad. Obviously I guess you all were in total support.  I did reach out to the Riverkeeper. Was it the position of the Historical Society that it was great to see it gone forever? Just asking.

[thelakelander]

^That wasn't a rail viaduct.  The rail viaduct was removed over a decade ago.  The viaduct that was removed as was a street and it wasn't historic. 

[dougskiles]

The city will be announcing a new round of designated kayak launch sites and trail improvements on Friday, June 29th, 8:30 am, Tillie Fowler Park (across from NAS).  One of the launch sites will be on Hogans Creek at the end of Catherine Street.  Public Works is going to clear away the undergrowth this week to make it more accessible.

[DuvalHusky]

One of the many things Brown's "administration" has dropped the ball on while oiling their cliche machine (SORRY, HAD TO), is pursuing federal grant opportunities for our local waterways. The attached grant below, while now closed, represented a good opportunity for the City to lead a collaborative grant application.

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=s1QLPl2b3NL8YG0fntk9pLQ1mqZ74Hp431smgvvHRGzSw14VQrJW!1911218039?oppId=131634&mode=VIEW

While the Peyton administration was flawed, I know their Parks and Grants Office, when it was started but the guy who came from parks, were active in pursuing grants for Hogan's Creek. The City and Michael Bryant even submitted a grant to NOAA several years ago for some small test sites along to creek to restore riparian flood plot areas to help clean the creek of debris. While not funded, there was some interest and leadership shown and a lot of data produced.

This administration has no one designated to pursue these grants, no one designated or capable (that I'm aware of) to write these grants, and no one leading any kind of larger effort. This is a pity and I think urban core CPAC needs to start bringing these grant notices to Brown and asking him where the "private-public" partnerships are for our waterways.

I'm crawling off my soap box now.  Budget times are tight however the City can still lead and facilitate.

[Noone]

^That wasn't a rail viaduct.  The rail viaduct was removed over a decade ago.  The viaduct that was removed as was a street and it wasn't historic. 

OK. Well look at picture 1 and imagine a food truck. the steps that are already there and the connectivity that was just lost for not only walking but cycling. Where was the discusion? There was none.

[Noone]

Public Works is going to clear away the undergrowth this week to make it more accessible.

Public Works is the one who gets the credit for Stonewall and Chelsea St. on McCoys Creek in Riverside. I just hope they don't plan on cutting a 100' wide path to the creek.

[thelakelander]

^That wasn't a rail viaduct.  The rail viaduct was removed over a decade ago.  The viaduct that was removed as was a street and it wasn't historic. 

OK. Well look at picture 1 and imagine a food truck. the steps that are already there and the connectivity that was just lost for not only walking but cycling. Where was the discusion? There was none.

From my understanding, that old Shipyards viaduct was taken down to help the creek flow better.  I really don't see what the big deal is about it.

[Noone]

^That wasn't a rail viaduct.  The rail viaduct was removed over a decade ago.  The viaduct that was removed as was a street and it wasn't historic. 

OK. Well look at picture 1 and imagine a food truck. the steps that are already there and the connectivity that was just lost for not only walking but cycling. Where was the discusion? There was none.

From my understanding, that old Shipyards viaduct was taken down to help the creek flow better.  I really don't see what the big deal is about it.

The big deal is that the Public Trust is just being totally crushed in this community and the decisions are backroom deals that are circumventing the process and one doesn't have to look to far to see the recent city council disaster with ad volorem tax revenue with FIND. 2012-273. Who gets the credit for leaving $500,000 on the table? We are a joke.

5 hours out from a cleanup of Hogans Creek at Washington and Catherine. Anyone going? You can visually see for yourself the issue that will immediately exist. Please, on the next Urban Core Construction update show a picture from Bay St. and the restoration project of this dredge that was never before Waterways.     

[thelakelander]

I've already taken images for the next urban update.  If you can, take a picture while you're at the cleanup and email it to me.

[Noone]

Lake, your killing me. Your second home is the Jacksonville Historical Society you are probably in one of the best positions to be on this issue more than most people in this community. Hogans Creek is your backyard. I'm not picking on you but I must say that I'm in shock with another opportunity that is lost and no outrage from anyone from MJ.

Cleanup two hours out. Lets see who shows up. I know for me personally this will be one of the toughest years to tell the Commissioners of FIND that we are so LOST.

[thelakelander]

Lol, Noone, you're killing me, too.  I haven't witnessed a huge missed opportunity by the removal of the viaduct but if you think there was something lost, write about it and we'll run your story as a guest article.  Hundreds of people have taken advantage over the years, so the opportunity for you and your cause is there.  You just have to be willing to do it instead of waiting for others to do it for you.

You practically live in Hogans Creek.  JHS is more like my fourth or fifth home. I'm literally spend just as much time out of town as I do in it (not to mention everything I'm involved with when I'm here).  If you want something included in the construction update that you may have think I missed, help me out by snapping a shot and emailing or texting it to me.  I can't do it all alone.  It would be greatly appreciated. 

[NavyGuyAN]

Hey Noone! Hopefully I'll finally get to met you and a few other ppl from MJ. I wanted to kayak today but I'll be walking the banks with the Jacksonville Jaycees. Will we see u out there!
Ryan

[Noone]

Ryan, It was a pleasure meeting you today as well and one day soon we will just tear it up fishing and kayaking under the brand new no fishing signs Downtown.

But today's adventure and clean up  was all the result of the energy and excitement of the Jacksonville Jaycees. I arrived at 9 but I had the feeling that I was late because there were already so many people there and just filling up the blue bags. There were people on both sides of the creek. Someone brought a canoe and it was in the water.

Vivian Harrell was there and after getting a hug and just knowing that she was there gives you that extra feeling that you know that she is also here on a Sunday morning and this is not a fluff site. Saw some old faces and some new. Duncan, Sarah, and Joe. Some new faces Jessie, Molly, Ryan, it was a pleasure to finally meet you and can't wait to go kayaking with you Downtown.

The true highlight of the cleanup was the team effort by the Jacksonville Jaycees to get out a shopping cart that was submerged and right in the middle of the creek. Dave Roman and the administration need to give the Jaycees some props because this cart was right in the middle of the new launch. there is no way you would miss it. But Molly and the other woman (sorry someone help me out with her name) that was in the creek joining her with the shovels prying this cart from its sedimentary bond with two ropes attached and a team pulling effort from the banks made it happen. Once that wheel popped the surface you knew it was coming out and heading to the garbage pile.

Congratulations to everyone with today's cleanup especially the Jacksonville Jaycees. What an effort. Congratulations to Dave Roman and the administration and can't wait to hear the announcements next week at Tillie Fowler Park.

Hogans Creek is one piece of a water, creek, river, connectivity piece of a puzzle that will allow Mayor Brown to make Downtown a Destination and not a pass through as we want to tell the world to Visit Jacksonville on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative.

Who's next?