by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The City’s decision last year to allow the Tony Boselli Foundation and others like it to operate City-owned community centers has proven to be a win-win situation for both parties. The City has maintained ownership while defraying the management costs.
That may be the impetus behind a proposal that could see Boone Park in Avondale and Southside Park on Hendricks remain City-owned parks, but come under the management of a private company.
Misty Skipper, spokesperson for the mayor’s office, said a public/private partnership regarding the two parks may prove cost effective. She said a request for proposal will be issued to see if there are any interested parties.
“This is not absolute,” said Skipper, adding the City will first look at the responses to the RFP before making any further decisions. “We will hold a public meeting in the near future.”
Skipper said the City is losing money on the parks. Both are primarily tennis driven, but have many amenities in addition to several tennis courts. It costs $110 a year for an adult to belong to Boone Park while Southside Park is $22 a year. However, the maintenance costs of each offset any revenue generated. Skipper said the only way to determine if privatizing the management makes financial sense is to evaluate any RFPs that may come in.
“It’s hard to quantify the savings with an RFP,” she said, adding it would be determined later if the employees at the parks would become employees of the management company, moved to another job within the City or if those positions would be eliminated. “We have seen successful models with private companies operating the community centers.”
While no particular group has been identified as opposed to the idea, there is a form letter circulating that expresses opposition. That letter has been sent via e-mail to all of City Council and dozens of others within the City’s administration.
“Adequate and affordable recreational facilities are necessary for the city’s health and vitality, and serve to make Jacksonville a desirable place to live,” states the letter. “It is always wise to consider improved methods to manage these parks more effectively and efficiently. However any privatization of these parks that negatively affects the affordability and accessibility of these parks will significantly hurt Jacksonville and the large number of its citizens that have come to rely upon and appreciate these parks.
“Please consider improved management for these facilities with the mindset of capitalizing on the success of these parks for the citizens of Jacksonville rather than jeopardizing this success. The privatization of these parks, without careful consideration of the potential negative consequences of such privatization on the accessibility and affordability of such parks, will jeopardize this success.”
Park facts and history
Boone Park • 3700 Park St. • Acres: 28 • Park type: Community • Council representative: Michael Corrigan
Amenities
• 14 lighted clay tennis courts
• 2 lighted hard tennis courts
• 96 benches
• 4 bike racks
• 2 bleachers
• 117 parking spaces
• 8 grills
• 2 picnic shelters
• 24 picnic tables
• 23 pieces of playground equipment
• 1 restrooms
• 0.69 miles of paved trails
• 37 trash barrels
• 1 drinking fountain
• security lighting
History:
Boone Park is located in the Avondale area. The City purchased most of the property from William Elijah Boone and four other owners in 1926. Boone (1853-1938) bought and then rebuilt locomotives, which he leased to local industries in North Florida and South Georgia. In 1937, the “little house” was constructed on the grounds for use by the Girl Scouts, and the first tennis courts were built sometime prior to 1946.
Southside Park • 1541 Hendricks Ave. • Acres: 4.7 • Park type: Community • Council representative: Art Shad
Amenities
• 6 lighted clay tennis courts
• 6 lighted hard tennis courts
• 1 basketball court
• 17 benches
• 1 bike rack
• 3 bleachers
• 11 parking spaces
• 1 multi-use field
• 3 picnic shelters
• 16 picnic tables
• 8 pieces of playground equipment
• 1 restroom
• 0.2 miles of paved trails
• 4 trash barrels
• community center
• 1 drinking fountain
• perimeter fencing
• security lighting
History:
Southside Park is located in the San Marco section of South Jacksonville, which existed as a separate municipality in 1925, when the park was first established and known as Central Park. Between 1930 and 1955, the park doubled in size, and the Southside Branch Library moved to its new location at the park in 1950.
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