Second phase to restore Memorial Park begins Monday
Jacksonville, Fla. September 24, 2016 The Memorial Park Association in collaboration with the City of Jacksonville, will begin construction in Memorial Park, Monday, September 26. The second phase of the capital improvement to restore the park will be managed by the CMS Group, LLC, serving as owners representative for the association. Work will be done primarily in the green of the center oval, to improve drainage, including the installation of new irrigation system, amend soils and restore it with a healthy lawn. Perimeter walkways will be briefly closed to remove, repair and replace concrete affecting the health of adjacent trees. The area under construction will be completely fenced off during the construction phase and after the new lawn is installed, so the grass will have time to root and grow.
A comprehensive site survey was provided through the generosity of Clary and Associates, land surveyor.
The design and permitted construction plans for this project were generously donated to the association (prepared in-kind) by HASKELL‘s civil engineer Myra Jones and landscape architect Eric Lycke (donated in-kind). They are in keeping with the associations Master Plan, approved by the City Council.
Tree work was performed, with a generous contribution toward their bid, by arborist/tree surgeons Bushor’s to restore the health of the well-balanced tree canopy surrounding the oval and to allow the needed sunlight to effectively filter through, helping the lawn to grow and thrive.
J.B Coxwell Contracting, Inc. was awarded the bid and generously donated back a percentage of their fee to the final cost of the project.
The completion of this project is planned for January February, 2017.
Major contributors include: The Memorial Park Association and its donors, The City of Jacksonville JaxParks, The Delores Barr Weaver Fund and contributors to its Matching Restoration Challenge Grant, HASKELL, Clary and Associates, J. B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc., Bushor’s Tree Surgeons and The MPA Adopt the Park Sponsors.
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About Memorial Park and the Memorial Park Association
Memorial Park is located at 1620 Riverside Ave., between Margaret Street and Memorial Park Drive in Riverside near the 5 Points area of Jacksonville, Fla. Established in 1986, The Memorial Park Association is a nonprofit charitable organization serving its mission to enhance, promote and preserve Memorial Park as the premier historic park in the City of Jacksonville. Designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers and dedicated on Dec. 25, 1924, it is the only park in the state dedicated to the 1,220 Floridians who lost their lives in service during World War I. In 2012, the Memorial Park Association initiated major planning efforts to restore and rehabilitate Memorial Park to its original grandeur, culminating in the development of a viable master plan that will serve as the foundation for continued restoration efforts. Learn more about Memorial Park and the Memorial Park Association here or visit them on Facebook or Twitter.
9/24/2016 Second phase to restore Memorial Park begins Monday (Press Release.pdf)
For all media inquiries, please email: rpatton@memparkjax.org
News and information about our restoration projects:
11/2015 thru 12/03/2015 Photo albums on FB of Life statue and fountain basin restoration project : 11/03, 11/04, 11/09, 11/10, 11/11, 11/17, 12/03
11/20/2015 The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville.com, Bruce Lipskey: “New ‘life’ for Memorial Park statue”
12/01/2015 Resident Community News, Kate Hallock: “Life at its best, thanks to Ohio company”
8/17/2016 Folio Weekly, Josh Gore: “Restoration Of Life“
9/7/2016 First Coast News, Janny Rodriguez, WTLV: “Memorial Park renovations already underway”
10/4/2016 The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville.com, Ann Friedman: “Memorial Park facelift underway”
10/4/2016 Resident Community News, Kate Hallock: “Work begins on second phase to restore Memorial Park”
10/5/2016 The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville.com, Ann Friedman: “Facelift for historic park” (PDF)
