New Hogan's Creek master plan

[strider]

ahh, I think most would see that this statment:

Fix the locks, fix the balustrades, leave the rest alone.

... meant to fix the entire "system" but not add all the other new items on the shopping list.  Don't move the dog park, do fix the balustrades, install the new lock system, pumps, etc. needed to make the parks viable and perhaps we do not start off by re-claiming lost park land, but put those funds to better use within the current park area.  Let's not reinvent the wheel, so to speak, but rather by preserving and renewing what was done before (that most seem to believe worked) we can give something great to future generations.  

Lake has been posting lots of pictures that seem to agree with the idea that a urban "creek" park can be "citified" and does not have to be "natural".  The newer visions of "green" may be cool, but may also not have a proper place here on Hogan's Creek park system.  Now is the time to speak our piece and let the planners know what we wish to see for our parks system. And here is a great place to do it.  Not everyone can go to those meetings.

[Dan B]

I think reclaiming parkland is ok in the long run, but it doesn't have to be immediate.

For instance, get the city to sign off on reclaiming the park under the Health Building when they are done using it. Rather than the normal system of putting public building up for RFP, and letting someone else take it over.

Then, in 10 or 20 years when the building has out lived its use (you KNOW Jacksonville cant maintain its buildings anyway) then it comes down. Its not unlike what is happening in Savannah with the squares they lost.

Second, I love the dog park. I, along with several others went into John Culbreths office and laid out a case for letting the dog park take most of the Confederate Park playground area (I also pushed to have get the surveyor parking out of there too). Its a great facility that is the most used park in Springfield. Wait until they add a playground. Thanks to SACARC and the SWC, it is one truly shining part of the overall park system. Would it have been better to use 4' fencing instead? Probably, but its hardly worth tearing it down and starting over.

I like the skate plaza, and I like to idea of maybe doing more of an athletic facility in McPherson park (I think this is in the plan, to some degree). It would be an awesome place for Shands employees, and neighborhood residents to use. There is currently a limited YMCA facility in the ground floor of one of the twin tower, so there would be a nice grouping if you add some tennis/handball/basketball courts to the area.

McPherson is a pretty park, but considering where it is and whats going on around it simply isnt working. Its little more than a homeless magnet right now. I would be ok with losing a pretty park for a functional park if it meant some postive interaction with Shands. Hell, you might even be able to get Shands to help cover the cost, since it would be of great benefit to their employees.

Redo the baseball field (its sloppy and under maintained now) but keep a bigger eye to Klutho. Go in, tear out the random sidewalks, remove the random holes and chunks of cement left over from the old Tennis Court light poles at 2nd and Blvd, and make it a nice utility greenspace/field. Maybe look into redoing the old Ashley Street bridge into a stage area for music festivals/plays/community and FSCJ events. The bandstand is great, but not practical for live music (at least, not the type you want to watch) Finish out the bandstand with bathrooms and a service/kiosk area for events (there is plenty of room, and the city has already signed off on the idea, they just dont have the money to make it happen).

I have many other thoughts, but these are a good starting place.

As for the flooding issue, restore the old lower pond, and maybe look at creating one more up stream near the health building. Then either seriously look at the lock/pump system, or look at other areas down stream (behind the Shulzbacher Center, Fire House 1, ect to create some storm water run off ponds. I personally hate retention ponds, BUT, they serve a purpose, and it would be better than having every major cross street cut off every time we get more than an inch of ran during high tide.

[sheclown]

...and like you said in another thread, Dan...

Preserving ones history does not run counter to being progressive.

It is extremely important "to keep a bigger eye to Klutho."

[CS Foltz]

"Honoring" the past should be a part of the New and Improved "Hogans Creek" Master Plan. There has been several previous Master Plans, done by other collaborators, and nothing came of those either.......why is this one different? If the City is pushing for this, I am against it.......because I am tired of paying for checks that the City's lips are writing! It would seem to me that having an organized concise vision  of all of our Neighborhoods integrated into a Master Plan of what could be and what should be may be the most efficient way to consolidate our dollars into something that is cohesive,planned and cost effective.....or is that just me?

[tufsu1]

If the City is pushing for this, I am against it

shocking!

[chris farley]

There is much talk in both of these creek threads of the dog park, of people pushing for it, of the proposal for a better playground.  I believe the grant for the playground came about because of the fact that Springfield was getting this wonderful dog park and that the money was already there for it.  It was there due to Lisa Neary and Melissa Miller.  Please we have to honor Lisa, will you donate towards her bench which is to be custom poured by Pedroni, who probably cast the original balustrades. 
We are about 2/3rds there, SACARC is giving $100, Strider and Sheclown gave very generously, others have also.  We are probably looking at a $2000 bill, will you give and honor someone who gave so much.

[fsu813]

where is the bench to be placed?

[thelakelander]

^JTA's North BRT corridor will directly connect Shands and FSCJ with frequent mass transit (a bus every 10 minutes with no stops inbetween the two destinations).

[chris farley]

Fsu it will go with Michael Bryant's at the Dillon fountain at 3rd and Silver.  Interest from the matching funds held in trust for many years by Lisa and the club helped pay for the fountain.  If you go look at Michael's bench you will se it is almost a work of art.  I f we should collect more money than required, we would like to put a plaque on the Dog park fence or somewhere there, she deserves it.
Ennis do you think Samba will contribute?  The park is certainly bringing dog owners from all over into the district.
The two ISTEA ones were for $680,000 alone