Urban Parks: John Murray Forbes Park

Metro Jacksonville · May 06, 2009, 05:00:00 AM

Urban Parks: John Murray Forbes Park

John Murray Forbest Park is a three block secluded riverfront promenade, tucked away behind Riverside's St. Vincent's Medical Center.

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Beloki · May 06, 2009, 07:57:48 AM

Wouldn't it be great if you can connect this to Memorial Park and the riverwalk?
$:-\$

Keith-N-Jax · May 06, 2009, 08:22:10 AM

St. Vincents, my first job out of the military. One of or maybe the best location for a hospital. Not to mention how nice the grounds are and kept. My favorite hospital and grounds. It also doesnt hurt to be located along the riverfront.

heights unknown · May 06, 2009, 08:23:35 AM

It kinds of looks like a generic and austere riverwalk to me anyway. I always thought of it as a part of St. Vincents and not a park.

Heights Unknown

jaxlore · May 06, 2009, 09:06:37 AM

damn i didnt even know that was there, yep i wish the riverwalk wound all the way around!

fsujax · May 06, 2009, 09:17:12 AM

I love the way the palm trees line the river. It looks great!

ChriswUfGator · May 06, 2009, 09:38:35 AM

I walk through there every day for exercise. Nice view, very scenic.

will · May 06, 2009, 09:49:04 AM

The park is nice for the neighborhood, but I bet it's also quite a comfort to the sick or friends of the sick in the hospital itself. Looking out over a big, beautiful river has got to be good therapy for a troubled mind.

Deuce · May 06, 2009, 10:18:53 AM

Didn't even know this thing existed. Ditto on connecting the Riverwalk.

Jason · May 06, 2009, 10:21:35 AM

I've been run outta there more than a couple times back in the day because of the few great rails... The guards, for some strange reason, thought that my friends and I should get hurt skating off of the hospital property!

Looks a little different than it used to though. Have there been any recent renovations?

reednavy · May 06, 2009, 01:16:39 PM

It was interesting during the height of TS Fay last year. The water was at least 2 feet deep across the park and the winds created a tunnel affect. Any debris that was on top of a wave crest was thrown pretty fast through that entry way. It was really cool.

stjr · May 07, 2009, 12:46:50 AM

Here are some old postcard pictures of the park!

thelakelander · May 07, 2009, 12:52:20 AM

Is that old building (last postcard) still there or has it been replaced?

stjr · May 07, 2009, 01:02:10 AM

Quote from: thelakelander on May 07, 2009, 12:52:20 AM
Is that old building (last postcard) still there or has it been replaced?

Per the aerial below, it appears the structure has been "wrapped" by new outer structures and thus is no longer visible from the outside. My recollection of visits to St. Vincents are these rooms have been modernized on the inside as well. By the way, all three post cards look to be of the same building, just different times and perspectives. The middle one appears to be more recent and reflects an addition to the original building shown in the first and third cards.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=st+vincents+jacksonville&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.885545,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=30.30692,-81.689068&spn=0.003209,0.004828&t=h&z=18