by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
It all started when he was a community recreational leader at a park while he was in college. Ever since, John Culbreth Sr. has worked hard to enhance park systems as well as people’s lives.
Culbreth began his job as the new director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation for the City of Jacksonville on Jan. 3 .
“When I worked at a park in college, it gave me the opportunity to work with people rather than with materials,” he said. “It gave me a sense of helping other people and helping them achieve their personal goals.”
Since then, Culbreth began his journey first working for the City of Atlanta as the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. He was then moved up and became Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for Fulton County, Ga. In all, Culbreth brought over 30 years of experience in parks and recreation with him to Jacksonville where he will oversee the largest parks system in the nation.
The trick now is to make sure the biggest also means the best, a mantra that Mayor John Peyton has been preaching since practically his first day in office.
The first step to help make Jacksonville’s 370 parks the best, according to Pam Wilson, media relations officer for the parks and recreation department, was to bring in new leadership.
“The city’s task force recommended there be new leadership. We held two searches and had a number of candidates,” said Wilson. “We lucked out when we found John.”
Culbreth may have moved from an area with about 15 million people in the metropolitan area to one with about 1 million. However, he inherited a parks system that is nearly four times bigger.
“I don’t feel overwhelmed,” he said. “The best practice I use can be applied to 100 or 300 parks; all parks have the same kind of issues.”
Culbreth added that most cities have 60-70 parks compared to Jacksonville’s 370.
“That’s huge,” he said. “And I have seen 40 already.”
When asked why Jacksonville has so many parks, he said it’s because someone had the vision to acquire a lot of undeveloped land for that very purpose. That someone is former Mayor John Delaney who, through his Preservation Project, acquired hundreds of thousands of acres of future park land.
“That is very smart,” said Culbreth. “Jacksonville already has more than a million people and as the region evolves, we need these parks to serve the surrounding areas.”
Going back to his days in college working for various parks Culbreth said he was able to help mold people’s lives and enhance them — the two biggest aspects that attracted him to the profession.
“Parks are a part of the quality of life,” said Culbreth. “They are needed for people to have refuge from their daily routine — they are there to give your mind, soul and body a rest.”
As soon as Culbreth started his job two months ago, he began working to make Jacksonville’s park system one of the best in the nation, he said. To make sure that happens the community has to form a partnership with the City. That partnership begins Saturday and runs through March 12 when the City and its partners host JaxParks Get Out There! to celebrate all the City’s parks have to offer.
“It requires immense participation to enhance the park system,” he said. “It has to be a collaboration of partnerships with citizens, the City and the State.”
Already the community has been participating in making Jacksonville parks the best. In Avondale, community members planted trees in Boone Park.
“That is a model example where a community came together to enhance a park,” said Culbreth.
Many may think there is only one type of park, but really there are various classifications of parks including regional, state, national, community, pocket parks and preserves. To help get people out in the parks, Culbreth has come up with several innovative programs. Later this year there will be movies on the river and more educational programs at the Jacksonville Zoo. The JaxParks Get Out There! will become an annual celebration that will help get people involved in the parks and to develop partnerships with the community.
“We always open our door to the public to support us by volunteering or through contributions,” said Culbreth. “We want the public to be in the parks and experience and utilize all they have to offer.”
Culbreth, who grew up in Valdosta, said as a child he used to visit Jacksonville and one thing is for sure, it has grown...a lot.
“Jacksonville has changed substantially,” he said. “It is an emerging metropolitan area that has all of the features for a great quality of life.”
Culbreth added there is something for everyone including everything from the cultural activities to the ocean and the river.
“People have discovered it and that is part of the reason why it is growing.”
The growth of the City will also help bring more people into the parks. Culbreth said it is mandatory to have interaction with the public including children, youth, adults and seniors to help make Jacksonville parks the best.
“This is the mayor’s goal and we all need to help with the effort,” he said. “All great cities have great parks.”