Timeline

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Historic Society

Historic information has been obtained from the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; the Olmsted Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts; the Memorial Park Association archives held at the Jacksonville Historic Society, and the Jacksonville Public Library, and other sources around the country.

Park Timeline

1981-1985

Memorial Park is once again overgrown, run down and rife with crime.

December 9, 1986

Park enthusiasts and local philanthropists create Memorial Park Association to preserve and restore the park.

March 23, 1987

Memorial Park Association enters into an agreement with Jacksonville’s Department of Parks under the city’s Adopt-a-Park Ordinance.

January 1988

Memorial Park Association receives a matching grant from Florida’s Historic Advisory Council for restoration plans for the park. The job is undertaken by BHR Planning Group, Jacksonville. Two landscape architects participate in the design following the original Olmsted drawings, C. James King and Marty Child.

January 1992
January 1992

Memorial Park Association receives a second matching grant from Florida’s Historic Advisory Council to restore and preserve Charles Adrian Pillars’ bronze sculpture “Life,” the focal point of the park. The work is done by Washington University Technology Associates, St. Louis, Missouri. Ornamental fencing is added to the park’s east and west sides following an Olmsted design.

1993-1994

The entrance gates are rebuilt following the original Olmsted design. The restoration is a gift in memory of William Randle Barnett by his wife and children, Jacksonville architect Ted Pappas assists with this project. Mr. and Mrs. Walter McRae, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ernest and Mrs. Martin Stein complete the ornamental fence along Riverside Avenue in memory of Guy Botts. Councilwoman Ginny Myrick supplies funds to upgrade lighting in the park, repair the sprinkler system, some architectural repairs and landscape the Riverside Avenue frontage following the original Olmsted plans, designed by Jacksonville landscape architects C. James King and Marty Child and installed by B & L Landscape Co.

1994
1994

Memorial Park Association is honored by the Jacksonville Landmarks Commission for its revitalization of the park.

1995

Three marble benches, copies of the original benches, are given to the park. One in memory of Harlow Branett by his wife, one in memory of Jaquelin J. Daniel by his wife, one in memory of Mrs. John A. Gilliland’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.M. McCrory, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Russell, by Mrs. Gilliland.

1996

Mrs. Judson Freeman gives architectural urns for the plaza area near the sculpture. Mrs. Walter McRae gives a Memorial Garden which features relics from the original Riverside Avenue entrance gates.

1997

For the first time, the Pillars’ sculpture is lighted for night viewing by the Roger Main Foundation.