Christina Parrish Stone, Hemming Park executive director and a longtime player in Springfield and Downtown civic projects, starts her new St. Johns County job Dec. 2.
Parrish Stone becomes executive director of the St. Johns Cultural Council. She will lead Hemming Park through October or until her replacement is hired.
Parrish Stone said she was recommended by two St. Johns Cultural Council board members to replace Andrew Witt, who will retire at year-end.
She was recruited through Sterling Consulting, which contacted her in May.
Parrish Stone had no plans to leave Hemming Park. Since taking the leadership role there in 2017, she has overseen the addition of new green spaces, art installations and an increased vitality in the Downtown park.
“They called me. I wasn’t looking for anything,” she said. “I have a son who is a sophomore at Bishop Kenny (High School). I was going to work for three more years and retire.”
The St. Johns Cultural Council received 40 to 50 applications from across the nation.
Witt said Parrish Stone’s not-for-profit and government contract experience proved to be important skills. Her hands-on experience dealing with the arts community is another valuable asset.
According to the council’s website, its main charge is to serve visitors and residents to enrich the county’s art and culture scene.
It operates ArtReaches, a program that assists artists and art organizations to obtain grants that promote the council’s focus on arts, culture and heritage.
“We are a small operation. The ability to keep a lot of plates spinning is important. Christina is more than capable of that,” Witt said.
The new job will use Parrish Stone’s marketing and planning skills. In addition to her work at Hemming Park, she worked with local bands to create contracts and find work.
She also was an organizer of PorchFest, Springfield’s annual day of music performed on front porches around the neighborhood.
In her new role, she will be charged with overseeing current St. Johns Cultural Council activities as well as broaden its scope to include all of St. Johns County.
Historically, much of the council’s efforts have targeted St. Augustine. She wants to direct more art and history programs at Hastings and Ponte Vedra as well as the growing Nocatee area.
Culinary tourism also could incorporate Hastings. Parrish Stone said that when Henry Flagler built his railroad through Florida, he built a spur from St. Augustine to Hastings to provide a convenient way to bring produce and goods to St. Augustine.
She said that as one of the first examples of “farm to table” dining, the history is of interest to tourists.
It doesn’t hurt that Southern Living magazine recently named St. Augustine one of the best food towns in the South, she said.
Because the council has a strong tourism component, she will work with Visit Florida and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs to coordinate grants and create programming throughout the county.
She also is open to expand partnerships with surrounding counties. Parrish Stone cited the Jacksonville government’s support of The Players Championship as an event that happens in St. Johns County but brings benefits to Duval County, not only during tournament week but through charitable donations the event makes possible.
Her new job means she will move from historic Springfield, north of Downtown, and her home of 19 years.
She previously served as leader of the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council.
Instead of looking for another home in a historic area in St. Johns County, she said her family likely will move to a “cute place at the beach” so that her son can complete high school at Bishop Kenny if he chooses.
She won’t be a stranger to Duval County.
“Leaving Springfield will be hard, but we aren’t going far. My husband and I have discussed this and we will probably get a hotel room once a month in Jacksonville.”