Date: 7/11/13

Location: The Springfield Improvement Association & Archives (210 W. 7th Street)

Mayor Alvin Brown and 20 City of Jacksonville department representatives attended the community meeting to share plans for the Hogans Creek park system and address questions and concerns from residents about a variety of other community issues.

Christina Parrish, SPAR Parks Committee chair, presented about a National Parks Service grant applied for by SPAR and COJ. The grant would award $85k annually for 3 years to hire a coordinator to Hogans Creek improvements and resource gathering. COJ would also contribute $25k annually for 3 years. Waterways in the East Jacksonville and Downtown areas would also be eligible for improvements.

Daryl Joseph, COJ Parks department, shared that the Hogans Creek Greenway project should be completed by Spring of 2014, and would build a pedestrian pathway (jogging, bicycling, etc) from Market Street to W. 8th Street roughly following Hogans Creek.

Mayor Brown held a brief Q & A and answered questions about demolitions of historic structures in the neighborhood, the city owned 9th & Main property, crime on the 1800 block of Liberty, the city's animal control and rescue budget, and commented generally that financial incentives are needed for more robust development in the community.

The Mayor and COJ department representatives then met one on one with residents to discuss their individual concerns, questions, and ideas.

100+ in attendance, standing room only.