by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
After discovering approximately 114 acres of land surrounding the JEA water treatment plant in Arlington was City-owned, Council member Lake Ray is offering a suggestion for what to do with the land.
As part of a collaborative effort between the City, JEA, Jacksonville University and various civic organizations, Ray will release renderings for a Garden Arboretum project Thursday.
The evening event, the first of several public hearings dedicated to the project, will double as the final District 1 town hall meeting for 2003.
“In looking at the land, we thought it would be great for a botanical garden,” said Ray of the acreage located south of Fort Caroline and Merrill roads. “It’s a very open area that can allow visitors to observe the original, undisturbed Florida the way it was intended to be observed.
“The public is going to have plenty of opportunities to comment on this and we want to get as much input as we can from them,” he said.
Dr. Judith Stevens, who along with Ray is spearheading the botanical project, said the proposed garden will offer visitors a little bit of everything.
Stevens heads the Garden Advisory Board, and is joined by Gate vice president and garden architect Ken Wilson and Richard Danford, president of the Urban League in promoting the project.
“It’s perfect for what we want to do,” said Stevens, who has been working on getting the project off the ground for about three years. “The terrain has everything you can imagine from very old oaks to both wet and dry lands. There’s even a ravine, if you can imagine that.”
Stevens, a District 1 resident for seven years and also a member of the Greater Arlington Civic Council, agreed with Ray that a large botanical garden would aid in “Jacksonville’s transformation into becoming a first- rate city.”
Though some of the finer details surrounding the arboretum have yet to be released, Stevens said she’s already witnessed a broad base of community support for the project.
“Everyone I’ve explained the project to has been very excited about it,” said Stevens. “There really is no better place to have a garden than right there.”
Stevens added she’d also like to see Jacksonville University play a supporting role, whether through advocacy of the garden or by taking an active role in cultivating and maintaining it.
Ray said the Council may need to get involved to pass legislation as specific details and expenses become available.
He said roughly $500,000 will be enough to cover the “basic needs” of the project, including minor excavation, a gravel parking lot and a pavilion. A small amphitheater also may be on the future wish list.
“We’re working on that right now,” he said, “with some of it coming from park funds and also from private entities. We may also use some bond funds.”
Stevens said it’s important for everyone involved with the project to understand it won’t generate a heavy cash flow when it opens to the public.
“Number one,” she said, “gardens never make money, so we’ll have to supplement this some way. But we’re going to make the garden as low maintenance as possible.”
To help cover staffing expenses, Stevens said there will probably be a small entrance fee.
“It’s going to to take a little while for us to properly assess the land and coordinate everyone who will be involved,” she said, “but this will be such a beautiful piece of land that everyone can enjoy and appreciate when we’re finished.”