by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
A national expert in City park systems gave Jacksonville high marks for its stockpile of green space, but said the City falls on the low side of the curve when it comes to maintenance.
Environmental author Peter Harnik has researched park systems in large cities across the country. Thursday, he shared with the Mayor’s Parks Task Force what he considered national best practices and areas where cities typically fall short.
Working from 2002 budget numbers, Harnik said Jacksonville spent about $80 per resident on its park system. That number put the City in line with the national average of about $89. However, Harnik said most of that money was spent buying land. The City spent only about $37 per person on upkeep, about $20 below the national average.
“The mayor needs to be aware of these numbers,” said Harnik. “Right now the City’s money commitment is not enough to get it to his goal of having the best park system nationally.”
Mayor John Peyton charged the task force with developing a plan to take Jacksonville’s park system from the largest in the country, to the nation’s best. Peyton has pledged to spend $13.5 million over the next three years to turn more than 40,000 acres of untouched land into parks that compete nationally.
About 60 percent of the money will come from State and federal agencies. The City will contribute about $5 million in money left over from the City’s $360 million Preservation Project. Including the undeveloped land, Jacksonville has more than 82,000 acres of public land. It has 337 active parks, most of them managed by partnerships among City, state and federal agencies.
To make the best use of Jacksonville’s land, Harnik said the City must first decide what it wants from its park system. A clear expression of purpose, he said, was an essential first step.
“That’s what this group should do,” said Harnik, nodding toward the task force, “If Jacksonville has a plan, they should review it. If they don’t, they should create it.”
The City would need help from the community to realize Peyton’s goal, said Harnik. He recommended one group to advocate for the system citywide, supported by smaller groups connected to individual parks. Harnik said the City lacked private financial support for its parks. However several task force members said the City receives private support, it’s just not accounted for.