Once a scenic haven on the edge of Downtown Jacksonville, the parks that straddle Hogans Creek are now crumbling and polluted.
But a grass-roots group backed by the city and private companies says the area has the potential to be the figurative and literal bridge between the city’s core and surrounding neighborhoods and a catalyst for economic development.
That’s why the group, led by City Councilman Johnny Gaffney, Springfield residents and representatives from various corporate entities in and around Downtown, have come together to help create a master plan for the 27-acre neglected city parks that stretch from Liberty Street to Eighth Street.
Jacksonville-based HDR Engineering Inc. is leading the $100,000 project paid for with city funds to determine the best uses for the parks, which date back to the late 1800s.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/09/21/story5.html?surround=etf&ana=e_article
wish i could read the whole thing
=(
A $100k study? If this city had a robust planning department they would function like other cities and meet with neighborhood leaders and come up with a solid area plan themselves. Seeing as how we do not have a clear, comprehensive downtown development vision, I guess I'm happy the city is investing in planning. However, taking the park areas alone, without addressing the surrounding areas, will further the piecemeal approach to urban core development that hasn't yet worked.
100k would have gone a long way toward action.
That's a lot of canolis to find out there isn't enough money to do anything.
(http://gonewengland.about.com/library/graphics/swanboatsatbridge.jpg)(http://www.taproot.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/san-antonio-river-walk.jpg)
To make the waterway usable and truly charming, (after the removal of 80000 tons of shit) they should raise the level of all bridges and culverts from Boulevard to the Arlington Expressway. From there on to the river there is enough clearance for a canoe or paddle boat, peddle boats etc.
The other factor could be the Skyway up from FSCJ along Hogans Creek past Boulevard, then North into the new VA Clinic (breaking ground shortly on Jefferson), and ending at Shand's Jacksonville. The right of way is all in place and clear, so it could be done for a ballpark of $25 Million a mile.
(http://imgpe.trivago.com/uploadimages/48/50/4850452_l.jpeg)
This is the Metro Estacion Universidad in Medellin (shit Spanglish again!) In this Skyway like station, next to a school (HINT-FSCJ or the Arts School), we put a full theater and planetarium inside. Now it is the NUMBER ONE station on the metro system, and passengers that once drove by or rode through get off to enjoy the area. (psst... there's a mini train in that park too with REAL steam, like the one that used to be in Mandarin).
Bringing the Skyway into the park, (following the south and west edge of Hogans Creek) would offer an opportunity to create multipurpose stations, perhaps one with a small snack bar, equipment rentals, boat rentals, all the way up to restaurants, and community retail opportunities. Think of it as San Antonio's River Walk with a Monorail!
OCKLAWAHA
Since i was at the meetings, i can tell you that that general plan was discussed.
This is the plan that will be the vision, the goal, the ideal finish of the parks. of course, EPA & drainage issues must be addressed first for the overall plan to be complete. I'm guessing that once the plan is finalized and presented that the city will have the option of implementing it in stages...the steps that don't require EPA or drainage issues to be done first, while the heavy lifting will take a while to get moving.
Wasting money to decide they (or we) have no money; that's smart. But at least they're planning to plan though they're wasting money doing it.
Heights Unknown
i believe they think some money will be available to them, in the form of grants and what not. Main Street is a federal highway, which opens up different possibilities. PPS thought that this project would be perfect for new grants to be issued by a HUD/EPA/urban infill/walkability initiative soon to activate.
(http://www.carey-hughes.com/images2/canal4.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2751866629_71170f2721.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2688607606_f4e3105546.jpg)
Don't forget that Jax should be able to obtain big grants and/or grants assistance from the national "Main Street" program. If we need someone to go, apply, and make stuff happen, been there - done that, I'd be more then happy to donate my time. Anyone out there in the preservation sector that needs a boost, send me a PM. Grantsmanship is not going to the obvious sources cash, but to have those while applying for new funding sources.
For Example:
Want a Pond? How about a repair to a big duck pond? There are several agency's, that help individuals and communities do the job.
How about a creek? Soil and Water, Insect Control, Bat habitat, EPA, storm water retention, Wetlands preservation, fish farming, State, National, or Local parks funding too, at least 100 agency sources.
(http://www.wildnatureimages.com/I%20to%20R/River_Walk_Umbrellas..JPG)
The worst part of Hogans Creek (besides all of it) is South of the Arlington Expressway. We need to trash the tiny box culvert (the dam that backs water into Springfield) with a couple of HUGE metal pipes, and a smaller one for pedestrians. A riverwalk on both sides of the Creek with parkland on either side, that could be developed into a San Antonio style riverwalk.
OCKLAWAHA
Let's hope that this exercise will move us a little bit closer to making restoration of Hogan's Creek a reality. We all just know how much "planning" has done in Jacksonville over the years with little results and action.
Here is a link to the Downtown Master Plan section regarding open space and pedestrian use from 2000.
http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/e4gidy5txlvlupryp6ioaljcvfhenpl45ghoarytyg5qrnktxnsh64ci5hvety7sm2r74ov47m6kwrlmiezh24p55kd/Open+Space+and+Pedestrian+Plan.pdf (http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/e4gidy5txlvlupryp6ioaljcvfhenpl45ghoarytyg5qrnktxnsh64ci5hvety7sm2r74ov47m6kwrlmiezh24p55kd/Open+Space+and+Pedestrian+Plan.pdf)
I also hope that this group can garner sufficient buy-in and support from key decision-makers and regulatory agencies. Because of the significant contamination and pollution problems associated with this creek, there are many who have written it off.
Thanks to those of you who still have hope and a vision for this tributary of the St. Johns.
BTW, who are some of the participants in this process?
Quote from: buckethead on September 18, 2009, 07:44:28 PM
That's a lot of canolis to find out there isn't enough money to do anything.
actually $100k for this study is quite reasonable....and if people would rather the City do the work themselves, they need to get over their aversion to hiring competent well paid govt. employees!
argh! when is the City of Jax going to wake up?! >:(
riverkeepered,
the quality of the water itself may or may not addressed. it's much cheaper if it is not, so i'd guess excluding that as a goal is much more feasible.
Fsu, you can't exclude the water quality. What kind of attraction are sidewalks and handrails if they run along a putrid waterway?? In my opinion, restoring the water is key.
I think this is a crucial part of making downtown a regional/national destination. It also opens up new corridors for infill or upscale development.
I think you can exclude it, if you wish.
1) Making the creek flow better will solve the "putrid" aspect of it. Moving water is not putrid
2) Just b/c you can't swim or fish in it (don't tell the guys that fish in it right now) does mean that it's not very pleasant - the site, the sound, the asthetic value. Correct me if i'm wrong, but the afore mentioned Indy & San Antonia waterways aren't fished and swam in in the urban areas.
3) An "unsafe" waterway can look fantastic, just get the water moving better, fix the facades, the sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, the bridges, and create nice things around the creek that people want to visit and it'll be just the same.
IMO.
Somebody hasn't walked along or canoed that creek in a long, long, time. Folks this water is almost solid enough to walk on. 50% fluid 40% homeless poop and 10% mystery stuff... Never in my life did I think our city would sink so low as to having giant human waste piles and the resulting streaking on the bulkheads. I can tell you putting a paddle in it is like stirring the River Styx (at least now I can imagine what the bostman smells like!). We got rid of the paper mills and replaced them with a downtown park, nice job Jax. I'm for a 100% revival of the whole thing, do it all, or lay in the pipe and cover this nightmare up forever.
OCKLAWAHA
dredged 2009 thread........