Jacksonville has long been known for its public park system.
There are more than 400 parks and recreation sites within the city limits comprising of open spaces, trails, beaches, boat and kayak launches and nature preserves, along with coordinated recreational programs.
The city’s parks and recreation effort is being augmented through the National Park Service Urban Agenda, a new program designed to increase the influence of the national parks as the government agency celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2016.
The Urban Agenda program was launched April 13 in San Francisco by National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. The intent of the initiative is to create a system of parks, programs and partnerships within the urban environment to improve local economies, identify natural and cultural resources and promote historic preservation.
Jacksonville is one of 10 cities — and the only one in the Southeast — selected as a “model city” for the program.
That’s attributed to the city’s long-standing relationship with the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in North Jacksonville and to Mayor Alvin Brown’s participation in the National Park Service Urban Advisory Board, which helped develop the new program.
A key element of the initiative is the “Urban Fellow” program. Former Rocky Mountain National Park Backcountry Ranger Nathan Souder will be moving to Jacksonville in June to begin his tour of duty with the Urban Agenda.
He will work with city officials to identify expertise and funding sources for projects that may be developed through the Urban Agenda.
It’s a two-year assignment that could be extended based on need and a change in direction, said Chris Abbott, park service associate regional director.
“It’s a new position for the National Park Service,” he said.
In addition to his work in the field, Souder worked for two years in Washington, D.C. in the park service’s Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs.
He also has served the agency in public affairs, business management, volunteer and youth programs and park programming.
Souder will work with local and state government agencies as well as the private sector to identify the community’s needs and coordinate resources for projects. His time will be split between the Timucuan Preserve and an office at City Hall.
Abbott said an equally important intent of the Urban Agenda is to make the public more aware of the park service and the resources it offers.
For instance, the park service has a budget of more than $43 million this year in the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The grants will be distributed for state-identified recreation and conservation projects. Since it was created 50 years ago, the fund has disbursed more than $4 billion for more than 40,000 projects in all 50 states.
It’s one of many consulting, design and funding resources the service has at its disposal.
“We have 46 community programs. We want people to recognize that the National Park Service is more than they think it is,” he said.
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