Pledging to make Hemming Park “the heart of Downtown once again,” Vince Cavin was introduced Thursday as the executive director of Friends of Hemming Park.
He said the one-square-block public space at City Hall’s front door is “soon to be transformed into a vibrant cultural center.”
Cavin, 38, was selected from more than 100 candidates to lead the effort to improve Jacksonville’s oldest park. He is operations, finance and events director of One Spark and co-founder of Party, Benefit & Jam, a nonprofit organization that raises money for local charities,
“It’s exciting to be part of the growth and renewal of Downtown,” he said. “Together, we can make a great public park.”
The transformation of Hemming Park was approved by City Council with $200,000 in funding from the parks maintenance budget and $800,000 from the Downtown Investment Authority.
“This is a new day in the life of Hemming Park,” said Friends President Wayne Wood. “This is an example of how, when we work together, good things happen.”
Oliver Barakat, DIA board chair, said making the park a destination for everyone in the community is the reason behind the investment.
“The DIA’s goal for Downtown is for it to become the epicenter of culture, retail and entertainment,” he said.
City Council member Bill Gulliford said success of the park will have a “ripple effect” for Downtown, but much work must be done.
“Now, we begin the reality of making something happen,” said Gulliford, who was president of the council while the agreement between the city and the Friends was being finalized.
The ceremony concluded when Mayor Alvin Brown signed into law the ordinance turning over management of the public park to the Friends.
“We are now open for business,” the mayor said.
After the ceremony, council member Denise Lee, who began in September 2011 the effort that led to Thursday’s transfer, said it was a great day for Jacksonville but a long time coming.
“I didn’t know how long it would take, but I didn’t think it would take three years,” she said. “But I wanted to see it done before I left office.”
The Friends next step is to move into office space in the Main Library near the Laura Street entrance. The Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees agreed to lease the friends the former Shelby’s Coffee Shop space for $1 for 18 months.
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