My Afternoon Walk Along Hogans Creek

[movedsouth]

looks like someone raked the leaves and other trash under the Pearl Street bridge. Thanks!

[spuwho]

and of course The Charter Company which was planning a 50 something story tower downtown when they loaded four key executive officers on an ill fated helicopter ride straight into the ground.

Hey Lake,

I just looked up Charter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_Company

Interesting story for what was really a Jacksonville based powerhouse. Definitely a loss for the city.

Perhaps a book on the "Lost Companies" of Jacksonville is next? All I can think of is what a large amount of shareholder value that was based here (along with Barnett & Insurance) that drifted away over time.

Wow.

[kreger]

If the people of Bethel Baptist and the FBC would actually use these parks they would be beautiful by now.

[Ocklawaha]

If the people of Bethel Baptist and the FBC would actually use these parks they would be beautiful by now.

Have you surveyed the people in the park in such a way that it shows 'nobody from local churches,' uses the park? Even if the entire congregation of all of the churches in Jacksonville used the park, it would still be a shambles. Fact is, this is not about some church which may or may not play in the park, this is about C I T Y and the absolute, abject, horrible neglect they have shown for our municipal assets.

[Mathew1056]

I did get a chance to pass by the Pearl Street Bridge last night. It was cleaned up. Thanks to whoever took the initiative. I still would like to see the city step up. I sent a formal complaint to the city about the lights. I'm working on an email to the mayor and city council members. I would like to push the relevance to the cities efforts to increase activity downtown. We witnessed how quickly city council will act on downtown issues when Don Redman's Met Park ordinance came up for a vote in the last meeting. It was struck down quick and hard. The city should be ashamed of itself for letting what equates to it's central park rot and simultaneously build a new park on the Northside.

[Charles Hunter]

Ock, not to speak for kreger (OK, I am), I think his point was that if the folks from FBC and Bethel used these parks, the membership would bring their considerable pressure to bear on the City - through "their" Councilmembers and others - to make sure these parks were in better shape.

[Ocklawaha]

Thanks Charles, that's how I took it too. My problem with this constant 'its the churches' stuff is that he, nor anyone else, can show that church members use the parks disproportionate to the rest of the population.

If the churches 'adopted' a park, I'm sure we'd hear complaints about Bibles in the park, or a lack of liquor. Otherwise, why would a church adopt a park any more then say the Masons, Elks, or Rotary Clubs? Not to mention the fact that city parks are not the general area of expertise among the clergy.

[thelakelander]

Doesn't Bethel use Klutho Park from time to time?  I could have sworn I've seen them utilize it before.  FBC has their own green space at Main & Beaver.

[kreger]

Charles- that's exactly what I mean! @ Ocka I think Bethel uses it mostly for parking. I walk, bike, and drive by these areas often. Here is what I see: very few people using the park! I agree, blame the C I T Y. I would just like to see the central park used more. I don't care if you bring bibles to pass out or have a martini with a cheese plate. You could have an NRA redneck wedding for all I care. I just don't understand how or why these parks aren't used! BTW these two churches have many people involved in city government and they don't seem to have a problem exercising their influence in everybody else's lives.

[spuwho]

When over 70-80% of your congregation live more than 7 miles from your house of worship, I would surmise that the majority of the attendees don't even know what the park is let alone Hogan's Creek.

It would be fascinating to perform an awareness survey of FBC attenders about urban issues around their house of worship and see what is known.

On the flip side, since FBC does wield some level of influence, if one could sway them to the urban cause as part of their Christian service to the community, it could be a transformative effort.

[fieldafm]

The Boy Scout troop at Bethel regularly assists our clean ups(it ain't child's play, we wade through feces and clear abandoned homeless camps) and have conducted a few of their own near the church. 

[MusicMan]

Quote from Simms:

Despite what all you people want to say (how Jax companies are involved, Shahid Khan, etc etc), there is a general sense of a "we don't give a fuck" attitude in the city and it shows.  There is literally no corporate involvement as compared to most other cities.  Corporations and wealthy individuals are literally what built cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Charlotte.  It's the little things like a $3MM donation to a park that add up and what count.  These "investments" don't happen in Jacksonville, but if you want to see a cleaned up central park and major "place-making" activity, it won't happen until public leadership at the top starts pulling some strings and private leadership at the top starts throwing money around and viewing the city as an investment worth growing and protecting rather than a place to shield money and ride the status quo.

WOW! Absolutely spot on, Simms.  Jax corporate support, outside of a handful of companies, is pathetic. That includes the really wealthy families and foundations that dot the social/corporate landscape.

I have deep seated anger toward CSX in particular. $2 billion after tax earnings and they do almost nothing to improve the quality of life in our city.

Corporate/private giving is what makes Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York .................. all the great cities I can think of, amazing places where people and other (smaller) corporations want to be.

[Bill Hoff]

ooks like someone raked the leaves and other trash under the Pearl Street bridge. Thanks!

Courtesy of JSO.

Also, for arguments sake, CSX did bring 100 trees to this park a few years ago:
http://myspringfield.org/sustainability/100-new-trees-in-klutho-park

Just saying. : )

[ubben]

I'd rather step in a big steaming pile of poodle crap than see a bunch of First Baptist Church hypocrites spreading their judgement and delusion in Klutho Park. Let's solve this without their poison.

[BridgeTroll]

I'd rather step in a big steaming pile of poodle crap than see a bunch of First Baptist Church hypocrites spreading their judgement and delusion in Klutho Park. Let's solve this without their poison.

Speaking of poison...