The S-Line: The Key To Urban Economic Revitalization?

[thelakelander]

Without fixed rail, there won't be any type of true revitalization along this corridor. It still has potential, but until we implement, it will remain just that......potential.

I get that, but because we don't have rail yet doesn't mean you let things like this go down the crapper does it? That's a great way to create loss of interest, which then dominos into other things. This is shameful & whoever is responsible for maintaining this should be held accountable. I mean, it would be different if this weren't such a common thing, but it's like this literally every..single..time I've been on this trail. Is it any wonder no one uses it?

And I get that it's the residents of the blighted neighborhoods that the trail goes through treating it like its a garbage dump (with probably a healthy dose of gentrification backlash), but still. Proper maintenance should be a given on public pathways. If this were on the street you'd never hear the end of it.

I'm not defending the lack of maintenance but this is nothing out of the ordinary in Jacksonville. Most of our public spaces and parks are poorly maintained.  This is essentially a linear park through a forgotten distressed area of town. If we can't properly maintain a high profile public space like Hemming, I wouldn't expect much maintenance of this space either.

[simms3]

Also, while other cities often may have higher taxes and higher per capita spending on public parks, I can cite several examples of rails to trails that are publicly maintained but privately financed.  Where Jax is lacking is corporate and private sponsorship of "places".  Lots of people and companies put up $$ for Wolfson's and charitable organizations, but if this were any other city we're typically envious of there would be corporate sponsorships for this and an endowment for the Emerald Necklace with an already cleaned up and usable fabulous city park.

[vicupstate]

Without fixed rail, there won't be any type of true revitalization along this corridor. It still has potential, but until we implement, it will remain just that......potential.

A trail that is strictly for walking/running/biking can be a facilitator of revitalization.  The Swamp Rabbit  Trail in Greenville County SC has completed reinvented the small town of Traveler's Rest.  Property values and storefront occupancy in the downtown area has probably tripled or quadrupled since it opened. It gets over 400,000 users per year and is seeing double digit growth annually.  Traveler's Rest, or TR as is it often called, has less population than Springfield.   

http://greenvillerec.com/swamprabbit

[thelakelander]

^Yes, NYC's High Line, Atlanta's Beltline and Pinellas County's Pinellas Trail are three other examples. Unfortunately, I seriously doubt the S-Line will or has the ability to do the same. It's a disconnected, bare frills facility within a different urban setting.

[Rob68]

If this line were in any other part of town it wouldnt be in such dire conditions and basically forgotten.  As we all know this city has and has always had an issue with african americans of which these neighborhoods are predominately.  If this were in mandrin it would be properly kept?

[IrvAdams]

If this line were in any other part of town it wouldnt be in such dire conditions and basically forgotten.  As we all know this city has and has always had an issue with african americans of which these neighborhoods are predominately.  If this were in mandrin it would be properly kept?

Agree. Old areas of the city are often forgotten, the local representatives for this area need to lobby for this type of efficient use. Also, as the article points out, there are thousands of employees on the direct route for this line who could benefit. Not to mention downtown workers, etc.

[Rob68]

I find it wierd that we have so many roads that need help but the roads in the nicest neighborhoods are alway being redone, repainted and manicured...The street in front of every country club is kept nice and neat at all times...lets not lie to eachother..theres plenty of cash in this city when our roads suck but we have the largest football screen in the world...we are a fucked up city.

[simms3]

If this line were in any other part of town it wouldnt be in such dire conditions and basically forgotten.  As we all know this city has and has always had an issue with african americans of which these neighborhoods are predominately.  If this were in mandrin it would be properly kept?

I disagree.  I'd say many of the parks in the "rich" parts of town are unkempt and trashy.  The only parks that are "pristine" and maintained are two in Ortega that were privately financed.  The city doesn't keep up with anything no matter where it is.

Atlanta Beltline and High Line in NYC are mostly privately financed.  Jax philanthropists put all of their eggs in the charity basket but forget about some of the city amenities they can also fix up with their donations and efforts.  Atlanta's great parks are also mostly privately financed, some even having their own endowments.  I can say the same thing about Golden Gate Park here in SF, as well as the refurbishments of several other city parks (Lafayette, Dolores, Joe Dimaggio).

Jax has its own examples (Stockton Park and Baker Point are the realization of financial generosity and vision from several neighbors of these parks in the Ortega area, and look, they are the best maintained parks in the city).  I think the original riverwalk came about through the sale of bricks and not necessarily through city coffers...someone can correct me there if I'm wrong.

[tpot]

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/05/miami_heat_and_mayor_reach_new.php

City of Miami gets Heat to donate 1 million every year to city parks department.....

[marcuscnelson]

This is an old thread but it seemed relevant to include this here.

Swisher is donating half a million dollars towards developing the S-Line trail as part of the broader Emerald Trail program.

https://swisher.com/swisher-pledges-to-donate-1-million-for-community-causes-in-2023-2/

[sandyshoes]

Nice.  Who else thinks "Swisher Stadium" would sound cool, while they're at it.  Permanent name, maybe. 

[Todd_Parker]

If the city is going to continue with the U2C boondoggle, seems like it would make more sense to run it along the S-line as opposed to downtown streets where it will be surrounded by impatient drivers/pedestrians.

[thelakelander]

^It's still a good corridor to connect transit from downtown to the Gateway area. Unfortunately, I don't think its been really looked at for such a use since 2008 or so.

[jcjohnpaint]

Would they still be able to keep the trail if rail was added?

[thelakelander]

You'd have to rip the trail up and rebuild it. Years ago, we tried to get them to build the trail on one side of the corridor, instead of the center, for this very reason. Obviously, that failed.