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~AC.IS$9NYJJ..l.e 9QM~\JN.ITXQQUNCI.I.v INC.~ A Report To The Citi~ens Of Jacksonvrlle IMTEQ'PA'PpAS, C~Alij&1AJ~,
JANU~RY,
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CAPITALIMPROVEM~NtS ~
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FOR RECREATION ,
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SCOPE OF THE STUDY The JacksonvHle Cor.munity Council, Inc. (JCC!) Board of Managers authorized "Capital Improvements Program for Recreation" as one of the three studies to be undertaken by the Council during the 1977-1978 year. The initial charge of the Recreation Study Committee was to determine the public acceptance of an upcoming recreation bond issue based on the 1980 Recreation Master Plan. After an orientation by resource persons and an analysis of surveys made by other yroups and from ,"ithin the cOli1ilittee itself it was obvious that a referendum for a recreation bond issue was unlikely to succeed. At that point the committee had completed its original charge. The committee believed however that the goals which the 1980 Plan and the bond issue were trying to accomplish were worth\'/hile but that the Plan was unrealistic and unaffordab1e. The committee commencedon a new directioft seeking to effect the development of a new plan for better recreation and leisure services for the ci~ of Jacksonville. This plan would be based on the following assumptions: '
(l)
Recreation and leisure citizens.
time are vital
to the health and quality of life of Jacksonvf11e
(2)
Recreation and leisure services are as integral a part of city services as transportation systems, medical care facilities, education and housing, and an important part of Jackson. vi1le's economic and/or tourist development.
(3) Jadsonville's major assets of climate and geographic location on the St. John's River and the Atlantic Ocean make it unusually well suited for year-round outdoor recreation and leisure. DEFINITIONOF RECREATION Though recreation
can be broadly
defined
as "time spent
focuses largely on time spent in out-of-door space (beautification), individual resources unique to Jacksonville.
activities
in relaxation
and enjoyment, II the JCCr study
and environment.
This includes parks, green
and group sports and activities, and the access and use of the natur~l This study does not include recreation activities which are perfonned
for the most part indoors or are supported by private funds such as watching television, to movies, attending cultural activities, museums, etc.
reading, going
HIGHLIGHTS MAJOR PROBLEMS:
Recreation facilities deficient in quality
RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS:
in Jacksonville and quantity.
are
Jacksonville's extensive land area, low tax base, low density and dispersed population contribute to the problem of providing recreation and leisure services to the community.
A Recreational Design Consultant should be retained by the city to create a master plan that is innovative, realistic and affordable and includes suggested funding mechanisms. Jacksonville's distinctive natural resources. the beaches, the St. John's River and
tributaries,
should be more fully utilized
in futu~e recreational
development.
The proposed 1978 bond issue for $70 million was deemed unacceptable because it sought to implement the 1980 Recreation Master Plan; resource persons generally
As capital in~rovements are funded, additional tax revenues must be allocated to maintenance.
approved by the voters and there was no assurance of sufficient funding in future years for maintenance.
The City of Jacksonville should assign a higher. priorityto financing, developing, promoting and maintaining recreation and leisure services, activities and facilities.
agreed that the bond issue would not be ,
The potential of Jacksonville's natural resources tor recreation has not been fully developed.
The,Mayo.'should create a Recreation and leisure Services Convnission to bring about a better quality of life in Jacksonville through leisure services.