Staff Writer

Most days you never know what you’ll see happening Downtown and Friday was a perfect example. Three parking spaces were reserved not for motor vehicles, but for one-day urban parks that were meant to draw attention to the value of green space in the urban landscape.

The installations were part of a worldwide movement called “PARK(ing) Day” that started in San Francisco in 2005. It’s an annual event designed to challenge the way people think about the way streets are used and to highlight the need for changes in the way urban infrastructure is regarded.

It was also part of the agenda for the American Planning Association (APA) Florida Region’s meeting that was held at the Hyatt last week. Seven hundred delegates were there for the usual lineup of seminars, meetings and workshops, so getting out on the street to tour the three diminutive green spaces was a welcome change of pace.

Landscape architect Steven Davis took over a parking space on Ocean Street between East Bay Street and Forsyth Street. He said his design was consistent with the APA convention theme of using history as part of the planning process. The design was centered around an archival photograph of the corner of Bay and Forsyth streets that was taken in 1864 when the Union Army occupied Jacksonville during the Civil War.

“The Union Army invaded Jacksonville four times and they were kicked out four times,” said Davis. “This park is a way to bring the 19th century to our 21st century sidewalk.”

He also said building the park in the parking space led to some interesting encounters with pedestrians. He was told by one visitor that she had lived in Jacksonville for 60 years but never knew the history of the corner. Mission accomplished, said Davis.

“In addition to demonstrating how green space can draw attention to an area, one of the goals of my design was to create awareness of how much history there is Downtown,” he added.

Around the corner on East Bay Street near Newnan Street, Genesis Group Associate Vice President Joseph Loretta transformed a parking space into a “Jaguars Park” complete with team logo camp chairs. As lunch-goers came and went at North Star Pizza, they noticed he was barefoot and enjoying the way the real sod felt between his toes.

“The idea was to show people how green space can be made part of the urban environment. Parks reduce the heat island effect and plants help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Loretta.

A few blocks away between the Landing and the SunTrust Building Chris Miska, owner of ValleyCrest Landscape, built his temporary park to highlight the value of using native plants when planning a commercial or residential landscape.

“It makes sense to use disease-resistant and drought-tolerant plants,” he said. “There will be even more water restrictions in the future so we have to find ways to conserve as much as we can. It’s also nice to see a little greenery among the asphalt Downtown.”

Another item on the APA’s meeting agenda was a charrette to explore ways to improve the Landing. Wednesday afternoon, a group of about two dozen planners took a walking tour of the riverfront entertainment and retail center then divided into four subgroups. Each spent about two hours discussing what the Landing is today and what it could be in the future. The charrette concluded with each group presenting its findings and suggestions.

“In some ways this is better than a community charrette because these people are all professional planners and most aren’t from Jacksonville,” commented local landscape architect Chris Flagg, principal of Flagg Design Studios and facilitator of the charrette. “They have fresh eyes when it comes to looking at the Landing. They’ve also seen similar facilities all over the world and that gives them a depth and breadth of experience.”

The groups came up with some creative ideas about what’s working at the Landing in terms of design and access and what could be improved. One group suggested expanding the courtyard and creating a new stage that would be more connected to the St. Johns River.

Adding attractions adjacent to the Landing appeared on the “wish list” from more than one of the groups. Suggestions included an aquarium, an art gallery and opening up the structure to connect with Laura Street. Another suggestion was to make Laura Street a pedestrian-only corridor from the Landing to Hemming Plaza.

Flagg said the group’s cumulative ideas will be the focus of a report which will be made available to the Landing’s management, City planners and Downtown stakeholders.

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