Jacksonville One of 10 cities in the Nation to Participate in the National Park Service’s Urban Agenda Initiative
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 30, 2015 – Today Mayor Alvin Brown announced the selection of Jacksonville as one of only 10 cities in the nation to participate in the National Park Service’s (NPS) Urban Agenda Initiative. Included in the Urban Agenda is the placement of an Urban Fellow in each city.
The initiative’s goal is to create and deploy a coherent system of parks, programs and partnerships within an urban landscape that will positively impact and enhance the city’s economic vitality, historic preservation, natural and cultural resources, outdoor recreation, youth and education opportunities, urban design and sustainability. The other cities selected are Boston, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, Richmond (CA), Richmond (VA), St. Louis, Tucson and Washington, D.C.
The Urban Fellow will work with local government to identify recreation and preservation priorities and assist with developing plans to reach those goals. Additionally, existing NPS programs, including the Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program, Historic preservation Tax Credit program, Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program and others, will help facilitate recreation and historic preservation in Jacksonville’s urban settings.
The city has worked closely with the NPS to develop the concept for a park on Exchange Club Island, the Groundwork Jacksonville initiative in historic Springfield and East Jacksonville, and the development of Seaton Creek Historic Preserve in Northwest Jacksonville.
“The National Park Service’s Urban Agenda creates a framework to connect parks, programs and partnerships in a way that will engage more people to the work the National Park Service is doing in communities across the country, including Jacksonville,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “This is an ambitious plan, and the City of Jacksonville will be an essential partner as we look for new ways to engage in a public dialogue and connect more people to National Park Service programs, parks and opportunities.”
“When I took office I committed to improving our parks system because of the important role it plays in our quality of life,” Mayor Brown said. “I initiated the People+Parks Connection to improve access to our diverse parks system. Through this latest opportunity, the NPS Urban Fellow will help advance that effort as we work to provide new park-based programs and activities for residents to enjoy.”
The NPS focused on Jacksonville in part because of its long-term partnership with the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, as well as Mayor Brown’s role on the Urban Committee of the National Park Service Advisory Board. The NPS worked closely with the City of Jacksonville to establish the city’s priorities for the Urban Agenda Initiative, as well as develop plans for how the Urban Fellow will serve as a liaison between the NPS and the city to make sure all the goals are met with success.
The National Park Service Centennial, which will be celebrated in 2016, will create opportunities for matching funds to augment new and existing programs that connect urban populations with history, culture and the outdoors. In particular, the NPS focus on areas in youth engagement, improving transit systems and ecological resiliency that will present many new opportunities for cities and NPS to partner to meet mutual goals.
The initiative’s goal is to create and deploy a coherent system of parks, programs and partnerships within an urban landscape that will positively impact and enhance the city’s economic vitality, historic preservation, natural and cultural resources, outdoor recreation, youth and education opportunities, urban design and sustainability. The other cities selected are Boston, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, Richmond (CA), Richmond (VA), St. Louis, Tucson and Washington, D.C.
The Urban Fellow will work with local government to identify recreation and preservation priorities and assist with developing plans to reach those goals. Additionally, existing NPS programs, including the Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program, Historic preservation Tax Credit program, Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program and others, will help facilitate recreation and historic preservation in Jacksonville’s urban settings.
The city has worked closely with the NPS to develop the concept for a park on Exchange Club Island, the Groundwork Jacksonville initiative in historic Springfield and East Jacksonville, and the development of Seaton Creek Historic Preserve in Northwest Jacksonville.
“The National Park Service’s Urban Agenda creates a framework to connect parks, programs and partnerships in a way that will engage more people to the work the National Park Service is doing in communities across the country, including Jacksonville,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “This is an ambitious plan, and the City of Jacksonville will be an essential partner as we look for new ways to engage in a public dialogue and connect more people to National Park Service programs, parks and opportunities.”
“When I took office I committed to improving our parks system because of the important role it plays in our quality of life,” Mayor Brown said. “I initiated the People+Parks Connection to improve access to our diverse parks system. Through this latest opportunity, the NPS Urban Fellow will help advance that effort as we work to provide new park-based programs and activities for residents to enjoy.”
The NPS focused on Jacksonville in part because of its long-term partnership with the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, as well as Mayor Brown’s role on the Urban Committee of the National Park Service Advisory Board. The NPS worked closely with the City of Jacksonville to establish the city’s priorities for the Urban Agenda Initiative, as well as develop plans for how the Urban Fellow will serve as a liaison between the NPS and the city to make sure all the goals are met with success.
The National Park Service Centennial, which will be celebrated in 2016, will create opportunities for matching funds to augment new and existing programs that connect urban populations with history, culture and the outdoors. In particular, the NPS focus on areas in youth engagement, improving transit systems and ecological resiliency that will present many new opportunities for cities and NPS to partner to meet mutual goals.