Save Hogans Creek

Springfield Park, after Kluthos Improvements in 1929.

Hogan’s Creek has a history like few other bodies of water in the city of Jacksonville, with the notable exception of the St Johns River. It served as a natural firebreak during the Great Fire, saving homes, businesses, and even the original St Lukes Hospital from the flames that ripped through Downtown Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Subtropical Exposition, destination for many tourists in the late 1800’s was built on the Creek. The Expo later became Jacksonville’s Water Works and Home to Big Jim, the famed Steam Whistle. The Jacksonville Zoo even started on the banks of Hogan’s Creek.

Today the creek runs next to Shands Hospital, two JEA drinking water reservoirs, Bethel Baptist Church, The Parks and Recreation Building, and a large number of public housing units. It also runs the length of down town Jacksonville’s largest greenway with over 30 acres of park land, which lies about five blocks from City Hall.

I was all prepared to start ranting and raving over the state of Hogan’s Creek. To express disappointment over a city that claims to want its parks to go from the biggest to the best, but seems to ignore a park within a stones throw of its leaders offices. Then, after I read the words of Henry Klutho, one of Jacksonville’s most famous and influential architects, I realized the city has always neglected the creek. When Klutho revitalized the creek in 1929, he spoke of the "improvements to Hogan's Creek" calling it "an unsightly and rather filthy stream." He stated that "A general opinion prevailed that a large underground duct should be designed", but instead at the behest of the Springfield Woman’s Club, he worked to improve the creek. With a city issued bond Klutho was able to work miracles and install a balustrade and beautiful bridges. His work was so remarkable that it was written about in engineering magazines, and was the subject of countless Jacksonville Postcards and photographs.

Now, seventy five years later, we find a creek that is possibly in worse condition than how Klutho found it in 1929. The remnants of Klutho’s work are neglected, graffitied, and falling apart. The creek itself has harmful levels of fecal coloform bacteria, and other pollutants. There is litter, debris, and weeds choking the creek all the way from Shands to the Maxwell House plant, yet all the city seems to say is, "Yup, it’s a nasty creek".

Many Springfield residents and downtown workers hope to see a return to the days when the creek was serene and beautiful. Just imagine the possibilities of a Hogan’s Creek walkway tied into the Downtown Riverwalk system. It would be a jewel for all of Jacksonville to enjoy. The only way this can happen is if the city gets serious about solving the problems facing the creek. It won’t be cheap, but it will be worth it, especially to a thriving urban center.