This 4th of July tradition carries on into 2024, as the Westside and Eastside (of the Springfield Historic District) battle it out on the baseball field for bragging rights, complete with turn-of-the-century old school uniforms, equipment, umpires, announcer, food trucks and fanfare. All are welcome! This unique, family friendly event is one of a kind! Thursday July 4 in Klutho Park (204 W 3rd Street).

Experience PorchFest with our all-inclusive food and drinks package! VIP tickets include:

• Access to VIP area with amazing view of Main Stage
• Complimentary beer, wine, and food
• Access to VIP restroom facilities
• Invitation to our Sponsor Thank You Party in January 2024

$250 - PORCHFEST FRIEND

• 1 VIP pass which includes access to VIP Area with bathrooms as well as complimentary beer, wine and food
• 1 ticket to Sponsor Thank You Party

$450 - PORCHFEST FAMILY

• 2 VIP passes which include access to VIP Area with bathrooms as well as complimentary beer, wine and food
• 2 tickets to Sponsor Thank You Party
• Family name listed on donor signage in main festival area

45TH ANNUAL HISTORIC SPRINGFIELD TOUR OF HOMES AND GARDENS

PRESENTED BY M&M HOMES

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 27-28, 2024

FROM 12-5 PM EACH DAY

TICKET INFO

Purchase online in advance: GET TICKETS HERE. Early bird tickets are $15 each, if purchased prior to April 25. All tickets purchased online during the Early Bird period will be redeemed at the Will Call table at 1321 N Main Street. Tickets will be full price ($20) if purchased the days of the event.

SPAR members with a valid membership receive an additional discount off each ticket purchased, but must purchase their tickets at the SPAR Office prior to April 25 to receive discount.

Purchase in-person at the event: Buy tickets on both days of the event for $20 at the starting location: SPAR Building (1321 N Main Street).

TOUR HOURS

Saturday, April 27, 12-5 PM

Sunday, April 28, 12-5 PM

*Tickets are valid during both days of the Tour.

BICYCLE TOUR

NAVIGATING THE TOUR

A Tour map and guide will be provided to all guests at the starting location: SPAR Building at 1321 N Main Street. Many walk or bike the Tour route, but some may wish to drive. A FREE shuttle will be available with stops at several locations along the route. Stops will be marked on the tour map.

PARKING

Street parking is readily available. Parking is also available in the lot located at 1229 N Main Street (2nd & Main).

SPECIAL FEATURE: RETHREADED CAMPUS

Be sure to visit the Rethreaded Campus at 515 E 9th Street during the Tour! During your Home Tour weekend visit, you will be able to shop the retail store, taste some toffee and peek into the brand new kitchen, explore the Serenity Garden and add a “leaf” of thankfulness to the gratitude tree. This site will also feature live music from 1-4 PM on both days of the tour, with Bold City Opera on Saturday and Chris Staton on Sunday. Grab a popsicle from Icecapade Frozen Treats and relax in the shade while you enjoy the music!

BUSINESS PROMOTIONS

Extend your tour of Historic Springfield at our local businesses, many of which are offering special promotions and discounts for tour participants - just show your tour map to redeem!

ABOUT THE EVENT

The Tour of Homes benefits Springfield Preservation & Revitalization (SPAR), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic character of, facilitating investment in, and building community for the Springfield Historic District. The Tour of Homes has showcased the unique character of the community for 45 years, and is a major fundraiser for programming and services provided by SPAR.

QUESTIONS

Email [email protected] for the fastest response. Or call 904-353-7727.

SPONSORS

The Tour of Homes & Gardens is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. To become a 2024 Home Tour Sponsor, please email [email protected] with your interest. Thank you to all of our sponsors!

SPAR has installed a temporary park on Main Street, aptly named Sesquicentennial Park, in celebration of 150 years of the Springfield neighborhood. The pocket park was completed in February 2019 and was in use for the entire Sesquicentennial year. Due to the successful activation of the space, the lease for Sesquicentennial Park has been extended over the past few years. 

SPAR hosts events in Sesquicentennial Park and we look forward to the park being activated not only by us but by our neighbors, as well.

The park, located at 1527 N. Main St. and centered around a century-old live oak tree, is semi-enclosed with picket fencing and features a stage. The grand opening of the park was March 6, 2019 with the kick-off of “Music on Main." This music series, organized by SPAR, includes food trucks, live music, beer and wine, and is free and open to the public. 

Currently there are no public spaces north of 1^st Street on Main Street in Historic Springfield. SPAR is leading the way to change that by utilizing this place-making strategy that has seen success in many other urban areas. The goal is to create or enhance public spaces. This helps meet community needs and bring underused places to life.

Booking the Park: 

1. Would you like to book Sesquicentennial Park for your next outdoor event? Download the Sesquicentennial Park Application here

2. Submit your $20 application fee at the time of submission here  (If you are a member of Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association, this fee is waived)

"What a great idea: Downtown needs its vital neighborhoods like Springfield to have great activities like these that draw neighbors and residents together." - The Florida Times-Union

Sesquicentennial Park was created with support from:
Springfield Preservation and Revitalization
Jacksonville PorchFest 
LandVilla Outdoor
LISC Jacksonville
JoAnn Tredennick and Jack Meeks

Date: 2/7/19
Location: Wells Fargo Community Learning Center (1601 N. Main Street)
Time: 5:30 pm

Kelly Rich, SPAR Executive Director, welcome the approximate 45 guests to the meeting.

Join us for our 2024 Historic Preservation Workshop Series!

Historic properties have a unique charm and craftmanship, and they also have unique needs for maintenance and renovation. Our Historic Preservation Workshop Series helps property owners in Springfield learn more about their historic homes and how to preserve them.

2024 Historic Preservation Workshop Series

• March 5, Historic Preservation Workshop - EVENT REGISTRATION
  • Featuring Arimus Wells from City of Jacksonville Historic Preservation to speak on the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) process for renovating historic properties in Springfield and Mark Riccaboni from Southern Brothers Inspections to speak on historic home care and maintenance
  • Workshop is free but attendance is capped at 20 guests so please register online
    
    
• May 14, Historic Preservation Workshop, at Historically Hoppy Brewing Company (1636 N Main St) - EVENT REGISTRATION 
  • Featuring Daniel Miller, agency owner of Brightway Insurance, Riverside, to speak about homeowner insurance for our historic homes.
  • Workshop is free, but advance registration is requested. Please register online here.

• June 12, Historic Preservation Workshop
  
  
• August 20, Historic Preservation Workshop
  
  

All Historic Preservation Workshops are free. Each presentation takes place in the VyStar Community Collaboration Space at the SPAR Building (1321 N Main) unless otherwise noted. Registration is requested for planning purposes but the event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 PM and presentations take place from 6-7 PM.

In celebration of the Sesquicentennial of Springfield, area breweries are collaborating on a special beer. Springfield breweries Hyperion Brewing Company, Main & Six Brewing Company, and Strings Sports Brewery are working with Downtown’s Intuition Ale Works and San Marco’s Aardwolf Brewing Company.

“Springfield is Jacksonville’s original neighborhood, and we’re looking forward to honoring that with this beer,” Kelly Rich, SPAR executive director said. “We have a wonderful craft brewery scene in Jacksonville, and this beer embodies the collaborative spirit that I love about our urban core neighborhoods. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Champion Brands and our local breweries on this anniversary beer.”

The “Sesq Saison” is a Belgian Style Brett Saison with an effervescent and complex flavor profile with citrus and spice.

“Springfield is a great community that has been an integral part of North Florida for the last 150 years and continues to thrive,” David Rigdon, Chain Sales Manager for Champion Brands, said. “Great communities are built by the residents and local businesses. The question asked – what would be the best way to share this story of a century and a half of culture with all of Jacksonville? The answer given – over a pint of great beer collaborated by their local breweries of course!”

This beer will be available at special pop-up events throughout Northeast Florida during 2019. We will be updating this page, along with our Facebook and Instagram pages, when additional events are scheduled. 

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) Council runs multiple yearly events and programs. If you or your business are interested in receiving sponsorship information on specific programs, please fill out this form and we will be in touch with you soon. Your in-kind gifts of items or services are also appreciated!

Thank you for your interest in supporting our organization's work!

Springfield is celebrating the sesquicentennial of the neighborhood in 2019, and we want you to join us!

Springfield’s sesquicentennial celebrates the area’s 150th anniversary of establishment after John H. Norton—one of Jacksonville’s first real estate developers—was tasked with parceling the area’s land and selling it off. Jacksonville merchant Calvin L. Robinson is credited with naming the new development Springfield because of "a spring of good water located in the field through which West Fourth Street would now pass (near Broad Street).” (via: Historic Preservation Guidelines for Springfield)

SPAR and other neighborhood organizations are hosting programming throughout 2019. Visit the Historic Springfield Community Calendar to stay updated with events happening in the neighborhood.     

If you'd like to purchase a sesquicentennial flag to display at your home or business, you can do so here. If you're interested in sponsoring a sesquicentennial banner that will be displayed in our commercial corridors throughout 2019, you can do so here.

We'll be sharing SPAR hosted sesquicentennial programming and events on this page, stay tuned for more!

Sesquicentennial Programming for 2019

- Explore the Core: We're celebrating the bikeability of Springfield to other urban core neighborhoods with a series of bike socials for 2019! Learn more.

- Music on Main: Music on Main is a FREE and open to the public music series in Sesquicentennial Park to celebrate Springfield's 150th birthday! Learn more.

- Historic Preservation Workshops: Join us for this free workshop series with the City of Jacksonville's Historic Preservation Department staff. Learn more.

- SesQ Saison: a collaborative beer brewed by Hyperion Brewing Company, Main & Six Brewing Company, Strings Sports Brewery, Aardwolf Brewing Company, and Intuition Ale Works. Available at pop-up events in Northeast Florida throughout 2019. Learn more.

- Sesquicentennial Park: SPAR has installed a temporary park on Main Street, aptly named Sesquicentennial Park, in celebration of 150 years of the Springfield neighborhood. 

We’re counting down to 2019 and Springfield’s Sesquicentennial by looking back at 2018 and giving thanks. Join us in celebrating this past year!

Today we’d like to give thanks to our fellow urban core neighborhood organizations. We are looking forward to growing our relationships with these groups and working together on mutually beneficial projects and events.

This year we were honored to be a part of the Museum of Science & History, Jacksonville Neighborhoods (open through May, 15, 2019) signature exhibition that marks the 50th anniversary of Jacksonville consolidation, focusing on the development and sustainability of Jacksonville’s many neighborhoods – urban, suburban, and rural.

We’re counting down to 2019 and Springfield’s Sesquicentennial by looking back at 2018 and giving thanks. Join us in celebrating this past year!

We were thrilled to grow our Residential Revival Project this year and give back to a long-term Springfield couple on a small-scale exterior renovation. With $1,000 for materials and the help of donations and volunteer work, SPAR was able to do the equivalent of $15,000 worth of repairs.

The neighborhood residents and businesses truly came together to help protect the historic fabric of our community. Because of the success and continued need in the neighborhood for similar projects, SPAR will continue the program to assist a minimum of one low to moderate income resident each year with the costs of exterior maintenance and restoration of their historic homes.

We’re counting down to 2019 and Springfield’s Sesquicentennial by looking back at 2018 and giving thanks. Join us in celebrating this past year!

2018 marked the fifth year of Jax PorchFest, and the event drew approximately 15,000 people to Springfield! Special thanks to the sponsors, committee members, volunteers, and attendees for making it the most successful Jax PorchFest to date!

This family-friendly, free music festival held on the front porches of the neighborhood and in Klutho Park embodies the welcoming spirit of the Springfield community.

(Photo: Debra Heuskin Photography)

We’re counting down to 2019 and Springfield’s Sesquicentennial by looking back at 2018 and giving thanks. Join us in celebrating this past year!

Today, we’d like to thank all our sponsors, donors, and members. Their support of our organization allows us to work on our mission of ensuring Historic Springfield is a preferred place to live and do business by leading programs that drive the preservation, revitalization, and balanced growth of our community.

If you patron a sponsor of a SPAR program or event; please thank them for their support!

We’re counting down to 2019 and Springfield’s Sesquicentennial by looking back at 2018 and giving thanks. Join us in celebrating this past year! 

One of many reasons that Springfield is a fantastic place to live is the bikeability of the neighborhood. We celebrated that last night with the Holiday Bike Ride, an annual Springfield tradition of friends and neighbors leisurely riding through the Historic District to enjoy the lights and spectacle of the holidays.

This year we also took a bike ride to a Jacksonville Jaguars game and SPAR Board, Staff, and Committee members rode to a Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game! We love being a bike ride away from even more entertainment options!

Keep an eye out on the SPAR page for information on our 2019 bike socials!

Join your friends and neighbors for this Springfield holiday tradition - the Holiday Bicycle Ride. It's a leisurely evening bicycle ride through the Historic District to enjoy the lights and spectacle of the holidays.

Kids are encouraged, as are bike decorations!

Meet at bandstand in Klutho Park (corner of W. 3rd & Silver) at 6pm on December 18, and the ride should end around 8pm. The route will cover the majority of the neighborhood and allow riders to experience all of Historic Springfield’s best holiday displays from the perfect vantage point.

There will be post ride festivities to be announced in the event page!

*all riders are encouraged to have a bike light & safety gear

We had a ribbon cutting ceremony with AARP on Nov. 27 for our new bicycle maintenance station behind the SPAR building on Main Street! We were one of 129 grantees to receive funding through AARP Livable Communities' AARP Community Challenge "Quick Action" grant program. 

SPAR's project funded two bicycle and wheelchair maintenance stations (the other in Klutho Park); as well as the installation of additional trash receptacles on Main Street.

Click here to read more about the grant. 

Diane Graese moved to Springfield from Las Vegas a little over a year ago. In a very short time, she has built a reputation as a passionate and dedicated volunteer in our community.  “I came to Jacksonville because it was a big city; I came to Springfield because a website called Neighborhood Search told me I would find all that I was looking for. I knew no one, but on my first visit here there were people who welcomed me into their homes and I felt such a good vibe,” Diane explained.  “I ignored the naysayers and listened to the stories of how the neighborhood was changing and the visions for the future.”

We are excited to announce that SPAR is one of 129 grantees who will receive funds through AARP Livable Communities’ AARP Community Challenge ‘Quick Action’ grant program. Awardees across the country will receive grants to fund innovative projects that can inspire change and make counties, cities, towns and rural areas better places to live for residents of all ages.

SPAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, April 16, 2018 - 6:00 pm Southern Moss Realty (1501 N. Main Street)

Present: Todd Hollinghead, President, Aaron Glick, Vice President, Jack Adams, Treasurer, Jaimee Stewart, Secretary, Bill Hoff, Ex Officio, Kelly Lezama, Yolanda Copeland, Joey Marchey, Jamie Toraason, Mark Morley, Soner Acar

Not Present: Noelle Easterling, Tim Hope, Janie Coffey, Michael Montoya, Michelle Tappouni

Staff/Resources Present: Kevin O’Halloran, Kelly Rich

Guests: Diane Graese, Justin Geary, Lissa Dunn, Sarah Clark-Stuart

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Vice President Aaron Glick at 6:12 pm.