It’s cleaner. It feels safer.
Those are the two comments most often heard about the changes at Hemming Park since it was turned over to a nonprofit.
“We’re getting a lot of good feedback,” said Keith Marks, a spokesman for Friends of Hemming Park.
The group entered into an 18-month, $1 million management contract with the city to manage Hemming Park.
The cleaning is being performed by Downtown ambassadors who work exclusively in the one-square-block park adjacent to City Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, the Main Library and the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse.
In addition to basic daily maintenance services, the effort includes helping change visitors’ attitude about behavior in the space.
“If you see people cleaning up after you, maybe you’ll put your trash in the can next time,” Marks said.
Since the group began operations Sept. 28, city crews have been bringing the park’s infrastructure up to par for the
transfer.
The lights and irrigation system have been repaired. The light poles, railings, trash receptacles and bicycle racks have been painted. Trees and bushes have been trimmed and pruned.
Removal of tables and chairs in the park’s new café area near Laura and Monroe streets and the replacement of broken pavers will be completed by Friday.
The final jobs, cleaning the mineral deposits from the fountains in the park and repairing the tiles, will be put out to bid this week, said city spokeswoman Pam Roman.
The Friends staff has moved into offices near the Laura Street entrance at the library. They are preparing for the Dec. 2 arrival of a 36-foot whale puppet, which Marks described as the organization’s “first signature event.”
The puppet is part of the tour of Poncili Creacion, an 11-member surrealist puppet troupe from Puerto Rico. It’s usually displayed at The Museum of Human Achievement in Austin, Texas, and will make a stop at Hemming Park on its way to Art Basel in Miami.
“It’s the first event we’re bringing to Jacksonville,” said Marks. “We want Hemming to be a family park that appeals to all ages.”
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