James Weldon Johnson park is getting a facelift

Princess Jhané Stepherson
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Jacksonville’s oldest city park is getting a makeover. James Weldon Johnson park hasn’t had one in more than 40 years but when can we expect to see some changes?

James Weldon Johnson park is known as the heart of downtown Jacksonville and after years of not being touched the city says it’s time to show it some love.

It got a new name and soon it’ll have a new look. Upgrades are in the works for James Weldon Johnson park.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

What are some of the things you’d like to see come to the park? “More benches, more areas for you to actually sit beside the little chairs because those chairs are kind of hard on you and I guess more food trucks,” says Maybelline Michelle Freeman.

The park’s Director, Liz McCoy, told me quote “We want to make sure that the park’s design represents who we want to be for the Jacksonville community.” McCoy told me there’s no blueprint yet for what the park could look like. It could take about 3 years. In the meantime, the city is taking suggestions.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

“More entertainment and I guess more for the teenagers, more for the kids, for the parents. You know since the library is close somewhere they can hang out,” says Angela Asbell.

Other than its name change in 2020 from Hemming park to James Weldon Johnson park, this square that sits in front of city hall hasn’t seen any major changes since 1977. A makeover will cost about $10 million dollars.

The board of trustees voted in favor of the recently completed three-year strategic plan which includes plans for a park redesign, but the expenses to redesign the park will have to be approved by City Council.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

“It’s a nice area downtown, it’s right in front of the library and it’s a main attractive area in Duval county,” says Maybelline Michelle Freeman.

If you’d like to offer some suggestions on what upgrades could come, there will be a drop box in the park very soon.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.