QuoteTime to expose Downtown's best kept secret
Downtown's best kept secret may finally be exposed if the Curry administration has its way.
Once called the "biggest swamp in any city the size of Jacksonville in the world" and blamed for its mosquito breeding waters morphing into the Yellow Fever Outbreak of 1857, McCoys Creek could become an urban recreational oasis within the heart of the city.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry's proposed budget calls for $1.35 million to be spent in the new budget year to remove obstructions blocking kayakers from using the creek and for the design of a 12-foot wide multiuse path for bikers and pedestrians paralleling the waterway.
Full article: http://jacksonville.com/columnists/opinion/2017-07-25/guest-column-mccoys-creek-downtown-s-best-kept-secret
The real secret is the toxic sediments in the waterway.
As long as they dont disturb that in this effort, I think its great. I drive through McCoys Creek Boulevard often and find it hard to believe this was once a major recreational venue for the city.
Great job, Lake.
Bricktown Canal is an excellent comparison.
It's amazing what 80 years of neglect will do. Just look at the creek and greenway in these historical aerials.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/815836225_AZ23w-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2229063593_k9bCGD9-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3864959445_Rn9PjhN-L.jpg)
1943 aerial
It's amazing, tragic, and wrenching how little regard we had (or have) for environmental resources.
Quote from: spuwho on July 26, 2017, 08:59:14 AM
The real secret is the toxic sediments in the waterway.
As long as they dont disturb that in this effort, I think its great. I drive through McCoys Creek Boulevard often and find it hard to believe this was once a major recreational venue for the city.
It is pretty nasty up along McCoys Creek Blvd on either side of Stockton. Completely choked out by vegetation and chock full of sediment. It's going to take a lot more than $1.2M to clean it up right. It would be really cool if they completely dredged out the silt, removed the retaining walls and restored it to more of a natural waterway. Then install a sediment trap somewhere between King and Stockton to try to keep that in check. That's a pipe dream though.
The proposed funding for 2018 is for the design of a multi-use path and to remove pipes and obstructions along the creek. The Curry administration is proposing an additional $3.4 million through 2021 to be spent for McCoys Creek. That $3.4 million is most likely to go to the construction of the trail.
IMO, the COJ should be concentrating on Hogans Creek south of Washington. Seem like that area as more potential to see growth and construction rather than McCoy's west of I-95. What ever happened to the Emerald Necklace project?
This would be an awesome start. Jacksonville is not a destination city for anything. I would love to see it become one for something positive like kayaking. Lord knows, it has enough water!
Quote from: camarocane on July 26, 2017, 03:35:50 PM
IMO, the COJ should be concentrating on Hogans Creek south of Washington. Seem like that area as more potential to see growth and construction rather than McCoy's west of I-95. What ever happened to the Emerald Necklace project?
McCoys Creek is a part of the Emerald Necklace, along with Hogans. The stretch in discussion runs from Brooklyn to Mixontown, making half of it east of I-95 and in an area seeing significant redevelopment. While it doesn't address all the issues facing the creek, it's an affordable approach to making the area more accessible to the public and recreational users. Money is also currently being invested along Hogans Creek. There's a multiuse path being built between Springfield and Downtown as we speak.
Is there going to be a different department funded to run / maintain the 'greenways' or is it going to end up being a big splash and then a yearly decline because of the lack of money and staffing of the skeleton crew left to run Parks and Rec?
I work with those guys seasonally and I know the struggles they go through. Adding more park land with big upfront expenditures without planning for a sustainable, long-term upkeep sound like money being flushed down the drain to me.
Quote from: TimmyB on July 26, 2017, 04:23:46 PM
This would be an awesome start. Jacksonville is not a destination city for anything. I would love to see it become one for something positive like kayaking. Lord knows, it has enough water!
+1
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on July 26, 2017, 06:21:40 PM
Is there going to be a different department funded to run / maintain the 'greenways' or is it going to end up being a big splash and then a yearly decline because of the lack of money and staffing of the skeleton crew left to run Parks and Rec?
I work with those guys seasonally and I know the struggles they go through. Adding more park land with big upfront expenditures without planning for a sustainable, long-term upkeep sound like money being flushed down the drain to me.
It's already parkland but it hasn't been maintained in decades. Half the money is for removing obstructions from the creek but good point about staffing and maintenance.
Nice pictures, Lake! Appreciate the historical info, too, thanks. That sure isn't what we've got here now!
Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting 1/10/18
9:30am. In council chambers. Open to the Public. Public comment is allowed.
Agenda item VI. McCoys Creek Presentation. Councilwoman Lori Boyer and Brian Burket.
Anyone going?
This was canceled at the last Jacksonville Waterway Commission meeting.
Noticed Meeting 1/25/18 at 11am. In Council Chambers on Parks. The Honorable Scott Wilson presiding. Does anyone want to kayak McCoys Creek at Myrtle Ave. Park? Seriously.
What is wrong with Jacksonville?
Quote from: thelakelander on July 26, 2017, 04:36:16 PM
Quote from: camarocane on July 26, 2017, 03:35:50 PM
IMO, the COJ should be concentrating on Hogans Creek south of Washington. Seem like that area as more potential to see growth and construction rather than McCoy's west of I-95. What ever happened to the Emerald Necklace project?
McCoys Creek is a part of the Emerald Necklace, along with Hogans. The stretch in discussion runs from Brooklyn to Mixontown, making half of it east of I-95 and in an area seeing significant redevelopment. While it doesn't address all the issues facing the creek, it's an affordable approach to making the area more accessible to the public and recreational users. Money is also currently being invested along Hogans Creek. There's a multiuse path being built between Springfield and Downtown as we speak.
A part of that area (just south of Washington Street) has been getting cleaned up and cleared out, since the waters receded from Irma's flooding. So what exactly are they going to do with it next? I'm not sure of the answer to that question, though. Does anyone happen to know?