Are the parks Springfields Lions?

A few months ago SPAR applied for a Mayors matching grant to start rebuilding the Rose Arbor in Confederate Park. The grant was approved, and SPAR will soon begin the process of putting together a plan to rebuild as much of the arbor as possible. Over the next few months there will be an effort to get local people involved in bringing back an item of true beauty in our park system

While getting a coffee recently at the Starbucks in San Marco, I passed the Lions in San Marco Sq. These lions are very well known throughout the city, and photographers can be seen shooting the Lions quite often. Seeing all of these photographers makes me wonder;

Can the parks become Springfield’s Lions, if they are brought back to life?

Certainly rebuilding the rose arbor will give all of the folk who used to live in the neighborhood as children reason to revisit Confederate Park. But will it be enough to get the parents who live here now to bring their children?

Sadly, Confederate Park has become the red-headed step child of Jacksonville’s parks system. People don’t go to it because it for any umber of personal reasons. It may be that they fear that the environmental issues are significant to the point of being a potential health hazard. Others may not want to deal with the homeless and panhandlers. Some have a political beef with it because is has “Confederate” in its name.

No matter the reason, the bottom line on the parks is, if we don’t use them, someone else will. On a recent visit I asked one of the folks hanging out why they chose that area, of all the areas in downtown, to hang out. I was told "because no one messes with us."

If the parks are made to be both beautiful and functional, there is no reason they wont attract people from outside of Springfield to enjoy them. I have had several people who "remember Springfield when..." tell me that they remember walking though the arbor as a child.

I, for one, hope this helps bring people back to our parks.