Urban Parks: Boone Park

[transitguy97]

I agree with those who dislike the remake of the playground.  My son spent many hours during his growing up years playing on those little concrete animals and each time I pass by there, I think how goofy the place looks now. [/color] 

[GatorDone]

First things first, my initial response was to comment that liability is a cop out. My job revolves almost 100% around limiting the liability of my employer and it is not because I work for an immoral company but rather because much of our society is looking to attack every opportunity to supplement their income. So when the city decides to replace old play ground equipment with new, there may be a valid reason for it. Boone Park is my children’s favorite park and not so long ago a rocking horse (or something like that) broke off its rusty spring. The city left a sharp point atop of that spring unattended for several months before finally removing it all together. If a little child running on the play ground tripped and fell on that spring, he would have been seriously wounded or maybe even killed. This is not a cop out and I bet some of Jax finest law firms would have loved for that exact scenario to happen. As I stated before, I do not know anything about the building that you discussed and mourning that building today solves nothing. In no way do I believe that Jax should tear down every old structure. Instead, Jax needs to plan revitalization projects in some of these neighborhoods so we have our history. However, it seems that Jax has done everything it can to hinder development or demolish buildings so we have the greatest concentration of weed infested parking lots in the state.

Telling someone to be content with their ford is not the purpose of this site or an intelligent response. Being content with were we are is the same as moving backwards. All of us come here because we want a better Jax for ourselves and our children. Now I apologize for over reacting in my reply to the response. For the record, I am not an elitist, and I live in a neighborhood of homes in the $115k range in west Jax, and yes, there are many Fords in my neighborhood ... they generally are part of a 5 or 6 car parking lot in my neighbors front lawns in which if 2 of the cars work at the same time they are ecstatic. This mentality epitomizes what I see in the leadership of Jax, plan poorly and throw money at the same old problem.

Ironically, I believe we are fighting about the same thing and if we ever sat down together, we would probably like what the other had to say.   

[Keith-N-Jax]

  I like the park and play tennis there when I can.

[jaxinmyfuture?]

I live in Baltimore (for now), but my Dad was from Jacksonville, and every summer while growing up during the 60's we'd spend a month there visiting family. I remember having family reunions in Boone Park. We'd have barbeques and fish fries, with dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins getting together and having a ball. My 86 year old aunt still lives in Avondale, and I try to visit her when I can. I love this area, and I love the park.

[RiversideGator]

Come on down.

[jaxinmyfuture?]

I'm seriously thinking about it! I'm looking at Murray Hill - I don't think I can afford Avondale. I had been looking a little further south - Citrus County to be specific. I like the town of Inverness, and there are some real bargains in real estate in that area right now. But I have so many good memories of Jacksonville, and I love the old south feel to the area. And, I really am drawn to the old Florida bungalow style of the houses - you can't find great houses like this in south Florida; at least not in my price range.