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.

Volunteer of the Month: Christine Lane

Noelle Easterling sat down with Christine Lane, who was chosen by SPAR leadership for this month’s volunteer spotlight. Christine was born in Canada and was raised in Rochester, NY. She attended college at SUNY University in Buffalo, NY and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design. She moved to Jacksonville 3 years ago and has been a resident of Springfield since April of 2017.

N: What kind of volunteering have you done in Springfield?  I know you purchased your very own trash picker-upper to pick up trash on your street and around the neighborhood, but it goes far beyond that, right?

C: I have volunteered at Main Street and Hogan’s Creek Clean ups, at Porch fest setting up tables (which was an emergency assist) and served beer at Porch Fest and Hyperion for their St. Patty’s Day Block Party.

N: What inspired you to volunteer?

C: I started volunteering so I could meet people in a fun way. I care very much about Springfield and enjoy being involved.

SPAR board members, staff, and committee members at a Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game

We're happy to share that the SPAR Board of Directors is currently accepting applications for new board members. We are looking for board members who believe in our mission to preserve and revitalize Springfield and are willing to be active in their governance roles. A primary responsibility of board directors is to participate in the development of policy and major decision-making at board meetings held once a month. Another key responsibility is to be active on an ongoing basis in a committee of the board. 

In collaboration with Sculpture Walk Jacksonville, SPAR, along with the help of multiple generous donors, has purchased "Formed to Fit" by Jennifer Rubin Gary, to be erected in Klutho Park...permanently!

A partnership between Sculpture Walk Jax, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and SPAR afforded the opportunity for ten large scale sculptures to be displayed in Henry J. Klutho Park. They were erected just in time for Porchfest 2017, and will be there until fall 2019.

You can read more about this here.

Want to support the cause? Find out more about (and donate to) Sculpture Walk Jacksonville here: www.sculpturewalkjax.com

Photo by Amanda Luiso

The City of Jacksonville is conducting a street sweeping pilot program in the Southwest quadrant (South of 8th, West of Main) of the Springfield Historic District.

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) was pleased to be honored by the City of Jacksonville's Historic Preservation Commission at their annual awards ceremony held on May 3rd, 2018. The award recognized SPAR for its commercial corridor facade grant program which has helped revitalize commercial areas of the Springfield Historic District. The facade grant program was led by the Commercial Corridors Committee of SPAR, chaired by Jamie Toraason. Through this program -the only one of its kind in Jacksonville- SPAR enabled owners of historic buildings to make improvements to their facades. In doing so, both the character of the community and the experience of the customers and guests were improved.

The program has contributed thousands of dollars to local Springfield businesses and organizations and will be accepting new applications through 2018, with new grants awarded on a rolling basis. To be eligible, a business must be a member of the Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association (SAMBA), a subsidiary of SPAR. Read more about our commercial facade grant program. 

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) was pleased to accept the Neighbors Get Moving award from the City of Jacksonville at their inaugural Neighborhood Awards & Community Summit on April 21, 2018. The award recognized SPAR for it's role in organizing and promoting wellness activities and the Springfield Historic District community and for making physical fitness not just a task, but a lifestyle.

[Photo: Todd Hollinghead, SPAR President, accepts the award from city and state representatives.]

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR)
Administrative Assistant

Overview:

The Administrative Assistant is the Assistant to the Executive Director of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR). The Administrative Assistant is responsible to, evaluated by, and works at the direction of the Executive Director. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for supporting, organizing, and occasionally managing various activities consistent with the organization’s mission and financial objectives, as outlined below. This description is intended to be broad and duties of this position will vary and grow as the organization advances. This is a part-time position.