Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department offers a Partnership Program designed to promote private support of our City’s expansive park system here in Duval County. The Parks Partnership Program was established late 2017 when the City Council passed 2017-352-E. The idea for the program came about to allow philanthropic organizations to make donations that would enhance City parks’ amenities. Below are two private support enhancements to our parks systems in dedication of
Don W. Gramling Jr. and Kathleen Kiki McCarthy Coderre:
Don W. Gramling, Jr. The family of an avid cyclist, Don W. Gramling, Jr., dedicated a new bench at the Baldwin Rail Trail; the Baldwin Rail Trail spans 14.5 miles. The Gramling family - his father, mother and sisters wanted to honor Don Jr. in a way they knew he would love: a new park bench along the Baldwin Rail Trail. On October 12, 2019, there was a bench dedication ceremony where many of Don, Jr.’s family and friends came out to honor his memory. The plaque on Don’s bench reads: “Our son, brother, uncle, friend, Don W. Gramling Jr., cyclist extraordinaire.” Below are some pictures captured during the ceremony:
Kathleen Kiki McCarthy Coderre. In a note to her friends describing the new program and her bench's completion and location, her husband, Dave Coderre wrote: “Friends of Kiki, a new memorial bench in Ed Austin Park was just installed on Thursday”, November 21, 2019. “Ed Austin Park is a 144 acre park located in the Jacksonville East Arlington (32225 zip) area off Monument Road (2 entrances) near the intersection with McCormick Road and directly off of (11751) McCormick Road at Golf Road (AKA "Dunes Club" Road). Thanks go out to the City of Jacksonville's Parks and Recreation Department for sticking with this through a developing prototype program since the anniversary of Kiki's passing in March in order to assure delivery of the highest quality product. Thanks also go out to the generosity of a friend and neighbor who donated yet another 3 matching tribute benches at the same time which will now make traversing the newly refinished 1.7 mile trail loop in Ed Austin Park all the more easier, especially when it gets hot again.” Below are a few pictures:
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When you are walking or cycling along the Baldwin Rail Trail or Ed Austin Park, be sure to take a break and enjoy these brand new benches.
These are just two examples of enhancements made to City parks. Are you interested in enhancing any of our parks or programming in Duval County? If you are interested or want more information, email Alison Miller, Project Manager at
aemiller@coj.net.
Click below to view the JaxParks Amenities Catalog and Pricing Guide: