MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION INC
501 Riverside Ave Ste 800, Jacksonville, FL 32202 www.memparkjax.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) FLORIDA NON-PROFIT ENTITY DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIAL PARK IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, ENHANCE AND PROMOTE MEMORIAL PARK AS THE PREMIER HISTORIC CITY PARK IN JACKSONVILLE.

THE MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) FLORIDA NON-PROFIT ENTITY DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIAL PARK IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. IT WAS CREATED IN 1986 BY A GROUP OF PARK ENTHUSIASTS AND LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS CONCERNED WITH MEMORIAL PARKS PERSISTENT STATE OF DECLINE AND DISREPAIR JUST A YEAR AFTER MEMORIAL PARK WAS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS PART OF THE RIVERSIDE (NOW RIVERSIDE-AVONDALE) NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT. Memorial Park is located at 1620 Riverside Avenue, between Margaret Street and Memorial Park Drive in Riverside near the 5 Points area of Jacksonville, Florida. It is one of Jacksonvilles best loved treasures. Located along the banks of the majestic St. Johns River (incidentally, at one of its widest points, as it starts to turn east from its southern source towards its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean), this six-acre park draws visitors from across the Northeast Florida community. On any given day, families and friends, athletes and yogis, sunbathers, fishermen, and readers enjoy a quiet respite with magnificent views from this landmark open space. The park is walking distance to local restaurants and pubs, the shops at 5 Points, and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, and just a short drive to Downtown. IN 1987 THE ASSOCIATION ENTERED AN ADOPT-A-PARK AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, WHICH HAS SINCE ENABLED IT TO PERFORM VARIOUS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING NECESSARY PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THE PARK AND CONCURRENT WITH THE CITYS OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN MEMORIAL PARK FOR THE GREATER PUBLIC GOOD.IN 1988, THE ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONED INITIAL RESTORATION PLANS FOR THE PARK. BY 1992, A PROJECT TO RESTORE THE ICONIC MEMORIAL SCULPTURE "LIFE" WAS INITIATED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS INSTALLATION IN 1924. ANOTHER FOLLOWED IN 2004. BETWEEN 1993 AND 2012, THE ASSOCIATION FACILITATED NUMEROUS PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES TO FURTHER PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PARK, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF ORNAMENTAL METAL FENCING AROUND THE PERIMETER AND UPGRADES TO THE IRRIGATION AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS, THE PLANTING OF OAKS AND OTHER NATIVE VEGETATION, THE RENOVATION OF THE ENTRANCE PIERS, PLAZA, BALUSTRADES, AND FOUNTAIN BASIN, AND THE DEDICATION OF MARBLE BENCHES TO HONOR VARIOUS IMPORTANT FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK, JUST TO NAME A FEW. IN 2008, THE MPA COMMISSIONED ARTIST, DIANE LAFOND INSETTA TO DESIGN THE TWO LARGE SCALE BRONZE EAGLES THAT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL CONCRETE ONES THAT WERE DAMAGED AND DESTROYED. THOSE PIECES WERE INSTALLED IN 2010. IN 2012, THE MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION INITIATED MAJOR PLANNING EFFORTS TO RESTORE AND REHABILITATE MEMORIAL PARK TO ITS ORIGINAL GRANDEUR. WITH THE HELP OF ATLANTA-BASED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DAVID SACKS (RLA) WHO TOOK PAINSTAKING EFFORTS TO FULLY RESEARCH THE HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ORIGINS OF THE PARK, FROM SKETCHES AND PLANS OF HARDSCAPE AND PLANTINGS TO DETAILED CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN NINAH CUMMER AND THE OLMSTED BROTHERS, THE ASSOCIATION NOW HAS A VIABLE MASTER PLAN TO USE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR AN AMBITIOUS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND RESTORATION PROJECT THAT WILL SPAN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THE MASTER PLAN AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WILL BE POSTED. IN THE INTERIM, THE MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN MEMORIAL PARK IN CONCERT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. WITH NO PAID STAFF AND AN ALL VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DEDICATED DIRECTORS, THE ASSOCIATION WILL ALSO EMBARK ON EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE ITS VOLUNTEER AND DONOR BASE, PROMOTE THE PARK TO CITIZENS AND VISITORS ACROSS THE REGION, AND PERPETUATE THE BEAUTY AND CHARACTER OF MEMORIAL PARK FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. BEGINNING IN 2015, RENOVATIONS TOOK PLACE TO THE PARK'S ICONIC SCULPTURE AND SURROUNDING FOUNDATION AND REPLACEMENT OF LIGHTING ON THE RIVERSIDE ESPLANADE. WORK WAS DONE TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEM. TREE WORK WAS DONE TO RESTORE THE HEALTH OF THE WELL-BALANCED TREE CANOPY SURROUNDING THE OVAL. IN SEPTEMBER 2017, THE PARK WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY HURRICANE IRMA. AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED CLEAN UP EFFORT WAS INITIATED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND RESTORE THE PARK. THAT EFFORT HAS CONTINUED AS REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLEAN UP EVENTS AT THE PARK ON SATURDAY MORNINGS.THE ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO BEGUN THE MEMORIAL PARK SPEAKER SERIES, A SERIES OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I. MEMORIAL PARK WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE WORLD WAR ONE COMMISSION AS ONE OF THE TOP 50 WORLD WAR I MEMORIALS IN THE U.S. IN OCTOBER 2017, THE ASSOCIATION SUCCESSFULLY WORKED TO HAVE MEMORIAL PARK OFFICIALLY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. IN SEPTEMBER 2018, THE ASSOCIATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, UNEARTHED THE BOXES CONTAINING THE 1924 SCROLL LISTING THE NAMES OF FLORIDA'S FALLEN SOLDIERS IN WORLD WAR I. IN NOVEMBER 2018, THE ASSOCIATION SUCCESSFULLY RAISED $1.5 MILLION FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF 'THE SPIRIT OF VICTORY' CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. ALSO IN THAT MONTH, THE ASSOCIATION CELEBRATED THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE ARMISTICE WITH AN EVENT IN THE PARK WHERE THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA PERFORMED.THE ASSOCIATION INVESTED OVER $500,000 IN THE REHABILITATION OF PLANTED BEDS AND RESTORATION OF ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES IN THE PARK FROM FUNDS RAISED FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF 'THE SPIRIT OF VICTORY' CAPITAL CAMP. In 2019 the Association put on several events in the park starting with the annual meeting in January when Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, founder of the Central Park Conservancy in New York, was the main speaker. In May, the Association put on a Memorial Day concert with the Navy band as well as a picnic in the park. There was also a Veterans Day Ceremony in November with a historic walking tour and in December the Association hosted a Luminaria festival in the park in conjunction with the annual Luminaria event in the historic districts of Riverside and Avondale. Avondale.

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