Preserving Jacksonville’s history was generally supported Tuesday when City Council considered an ordinance that would designate Hemming Park a historic landmark.
What was called into question was what kind of history should be preserved and how that should be done.
Supporters of the proposal cited the historic value of the park in general and of the statue in the park that depicts a Confederate Army soldier.
It was donated to the city more than 100 years ago as a memorial to Florida’s military veterans by Charles Hemming, whose name was placed by the city on the public space in recognition of the donation.
After nine people went to the podium during the public hearing on the bill to speak in favor of the designation and the importance of honoring veterans of all eras, council member Reggie Brown said support for the monument is not unanimous in the community.
“To some, the Confederate statue is offensive,” he said.
Brown said he’s concerned if the park and the statue are protected by law, future generations might not be able to remove and relocate the statue if that’s what they would want to do.
He said if the monument must remain in the park forever, “in 100 years, folk of that time can’t move the statue.”
Emily Lisska, executive director of the Jacksonville Historical Society, said the organization’s board of directors voted to support designating as historic the statue and a coquina marker in the park that commemorates Kings Road — the first road in Florida that went through what is now the park and is underneath City Hall.
The ordinance to preserve the park (2016-559) was requested by the society and co-sponsored by council President Lori Boyer and Tommy Hazouri.
And it’s the board’s wish that both markers be preserved in their original locations, Lisska said.
Council member Katrina Brown asked Lisska if the board contacted any African-American groups to find out if they found the statue offensive.
Lisska didn’t say they did, but said the board spent a great deal of time considering the designation.
Historic landmarks should be preserved in their original locations, Lisska said, to maintain their value as part of the city’s story.
Reggie Brown asked Lisska if any consideration has been given to moving the statue to another location, possibly Confederate Park.
Putting all of Jacksonville’s monuments related to the Confederacy in one place such as Confederate Park was suggested by Katrina Brown.
Lisska said she has heard that suggestion before, but it’s not an issue the society’s board has addressed and she’s skeptical that plan would get support from the board.
“It seems unreasonable to take history from one site and move it to another site,” Lisska said.
She added that the society’s desire to preserve the statue is “in no way” intended to offend anyone.
“We tell history in its entirety — even if a lot of it is wretched and difficult,” said Lisska.
No action was taken on the ordinance. It will remain on the agendas for the Land Use & Zoning and Neighborhood, Community Investments & Services committees when they meet next week.
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