Sorry if someone has already posted this, but I think it would be awesome to have a Dixieland Park revival! Obviously it could not be in the same spot but maybe somewhere on the North bank. I know there is the park down by the met but honestly it is nothing I would drive across town to take my kiddos to. Would be nice to have an attraction for kids DT....maybe something started by the city but could later be expanded with private businesses. Just throwing some thoughts out there....
really? Nada? Hmm........was hoping for some thoughts on how it could or could not work...
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-may-the-trolley-park-phenomena
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=2201.0
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=1539.0
We've approached the subject at least 3 times, that I can remember with about the same results as suggesting a downtown Streetcar or a Skyway extension... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
OCKLAWAHA
ah thanks for the links! Too bad, I think it would really be exciting and give kids something to do near DT.
I agree, however I also agree with Lakelander that it wouldn't be a 'trick pony' that would revive downtown. That said, it could certainly be part of a general makeover such as the Oklahoma City MAPS projects. Talk about waking a dusty prairie town up, man they are pulling away from us in a cloud of red dust. Check out the improvements at http://www.okc.gov/maps/index.html
The trick with MAPS was it was completely comprehensive, improvements across the board in infrastructure, transit, amenities, parks, waterways etc. That's the only way something like this would really make a difference in Jacksonville. A sweeping vision of sustainable, connected, walkable improvements in the city core. Roll out a BETTER JACKSONVILLE II plan and focus those energies on remaking the 'city' experience. In one fell swoop, we get streetcar, Skyway and BRT improvements/extensions and expansions, commuter rail, a 'Dixieland' remake, Bass Pro/Ikea or similar unique big box stores in a downtown location, bike trails/cyclovia's, landscaping, aquarium, line the river walk with Jacksonville's stars in bronze, interactive fountains, water screens under a bridge and kiosk shops to be leased to vendors. A road diet, compete streets, razing most downtown parking meters and beautification sweep would put our roadways over the top. A new convention center and a remake of Jacksonville Terminal downtown (without the insanity of 4 new massive empty buildings), and you'd see a major change in the face of our city. I'd even suggest a marriage of the new 'Dixieland' concept with the 'Epoch Project' and roll them out as one in a World's Fair Epoch Expo. I'm working on an article on just such a thing, so stay tuned...
Quote from: Barnaby808 on July 04, 2012, 11:24:14 AM
really? Nada? Hmm........was hoping for some thoughts on how it could or could not work...
well get a loan buy some property and knock yourself out.
Quote from: civil42806 on July 04, 2012, 10:18:33 PM
Quote from: Barnaby808 on July 04, 2012, 11:24:14 AM
really? Nada? Hmm........was hoping for some thoughts on how it could or could not work...
well get a loan buy some property and knock yourself out.
Can you load me a few $$? I want to build a theme park in downtown JAX. ;D
Quote from: Barnaby808 on September 09, 2012, 12:37:56 PM
Quote from: civil42806 on July 04, 2012, 10:18:33 PM
Quote from: Barnaby808 on July 04, 2012, 11:24:14 AM
really? Nada? Hmm........was hoping for some thoughts on how it could or could not work...
well get a loan buy some property and knock yourself out.
Can you load me a few $$? I want to build a theme park in downtown JAX. ;D
Why was the post above (that I've quoted) edited by Ock?
Well, we have the fairgrounds that comes downtown annually, I haven't been in years, but about 8 years ago when I last went it was pretty busy.
Just out side of downtown we have a "dixieland" park:
http://soggybottommudpit.com/
Probably not what you're looking for ;)
Quote from: coredumped on September 09, 2012, 09:05:24 PM
Quote from: Barnaby808 on September 09, 2012, 12:37:56 PM
Quote from: civil42806 on July 04, 2012, 10:18:33 PM
Quote from: Barnaby808 on July 04, 2012, 11:24:14 AM
really? Nada? Hmm........was hoping for some thoughts on how it could or could not work...
well get a loan buy some property and knock yourself out.
Can you load me a few $$? I want to build a theme park in downtown JAX. ;D
Why was the post above (that I've quoted) edited by Ock?
Well, we have the fairgrounds that comes downtown annually, I haven't been in years, but about 8 years ago when I last went it was pretty busy.
Just out side of downtown we have a "dixieland" park:
http://soggybottommudpit.com/
Probably not what you're looking for ;)
Not quite what I had in mind lol.
Quote from: coredumped on September 09, 2012, 09:05:24 PM
Why was the post above (that I've quoted) edited by Ock?
Because for whatever reason the quotation fell out of our format and the words [/quote] etc. appeared in the sentence line. When this happens, and if I catch it, I go back in and make sure the quote boxes are functioning properly.
Ahhhh yes. The old downtown needs a themepark thread. Here we go again!!!!
It would fit in great between the Bass Pro Shop and IKEA.
Look guys, adding a "theme" park to the Downtown would be the cherry on top of the cake. We got to make the batter and icing for the cake which is making the downtown more economical feasible for business (existing and new ones) to move into Downtown, AND create a stronger transportation system around the downtown and its surrounding areas.
Let start with the basic ingredients, then we can go crazy with the rest of the stuff.
-Josh
Quote from: wsansewjs on September 13, 2012, 03:06:31 PM
Look guys, adding a "theme" park to the Downtown would be the cherry on top of the cake. We got to make the batter and icing for the cake which is making the downtown more economical feasible for business (existing and new ones) to move into Downtown, AND create a stronger transportation system around the downtown and its surrounding areas.
Let start with the basic ingredients, then we can go crazy with the rest of the stuff.
-Josh
This cake metaphor is making me think the theme song to the better part of the last 40 years of downtown history should be "MacArthur Park."
Quote from: Captain Zissou on September 13, 2012, 09:39:03 AM
Ahhhh yes. The old downtown needs a themepark thread. Here we go again!!!!
Just like the obligatory five 'Should Jacksonville change it's Name?" among other facsimile threads that usually says something along the lines of "Is Jax too complacent"?
While it's true that these threads surface from time to time, there is nothing wrong with being creative and tossing out some ideas.
Take the San Antonio Riverwalk, or the OKC Canal Districts, and consider what Hogan's Creek could look like between the Arlington Expressway and Maxwell House. What if Jacksonville got really bold and rather then simply blowing up and bulldozing the neighborhood, emptied it and repurposed it retaining the historic stock. What if our DIA served as the developer of the waterfront from Metropolitan Park to Riverside Park, what could we do with a Better Jacksonville II plan?
I'm working on a story with a sweeping vision of downtown's riverfront, should be interesting to see the commentary.
OCK