Quote
The city purchased the site in June 1994, with plans to establish a public park there - ending its 29-year history as a public golf course then known as Blue Cypress Golf and Country Club. In 1995, River City Golf Group developer and former pro golfer Steve Melnyk proposed converting the park into a city-owned but privately managed golf course.
Although the state would not approve an 18-hole golf course, Crescimbeni said there is a chance that the state may consider a nine-hole course.
City parks director Bill Potter said getting the grant from the Florida Communities Trust means that there are some things that the city is obligated to do at the park.
Revegetation, hiking trails, picnic areas, soccer fields and a connection to the Arlington Lions Club are the things the state has required the park's master plan to include, according to Janis Fleet of Fleet & Associates, the consulting firm that will develop the plan.
Park planners said they want to be able to keep a balance between developing an active park and a passive park.
The park has a community center, swimming pool, tennis courts, a golf driving range, a security trailer and a number of athletic fields.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060497/a1BlueCy.html
Although the state would not approve an 18-hole golf course, Crescimbeni said there is a chance that the state may consider a nine-hole course.
City parks director Bill Potter said getting the grant from the Florida Communities Trust means that there are some things that the city is obligated to do at the park.
Revegetation, hiking trails, picnic areas, soccer fields and a connection to the Arlington Lions Club are the things the state has required the park's master plan to include, according to Janis Fleet of Fleet & Associates, the consulting firm that will develop the plan.
Park planners said they want to be able to keep a balance between developing an active park and a passive park.
The park has a community center, swimming pool, tennis courts, a golf driving range, a security trailer and a number of athletic fields.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060497/a1BlueCy.html
Quote
Anne Peery, director of Parks, Recreation and Entertainment for the city, and Carlton Higginbotham, a department planner, spoke to members of the Greater Arlington Civic Council at its monthly meeting Thursday in the Regency Square branch library.
"What's going on, and when will it take place with Blue Cypress?" asked Carol Schirado, council president.
Peery, who was executive director of the Florida Communities Trust when Jacksonville applied for $1.2 million to help purchase Blue Cypress from private owners, conceded the golf course was a hot topic. In its application for the state funds, the city stated it wanted a nine-hole golf course at Blue Cypress. Trust officials preferred a passive nature park.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051000/ner_3005772.html
"What's going on, and when will it take place with Blue Cypress?" asked Carol Schirado, council president.
Peery, who was executive director of the Florida Communities Trust when Jacksonville applied for $1.2 million to help purchase Blue Cypress from private owners, conceded the golf course was a hot topic. In its application for the state funds, the city stated it wanted a nine-hole golf course at Blue Cypress. Trust officials preferred a passive nature park.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051000/ner_3005772.html
The original facilities include a community center (former clubhouse) and swimming pool, golf course and tennis courts. In July 2001 the fishing dock, and a boardwalk along the St. John's River were completed. In 2003 the 9 hole golf course opened. In 2004, soccer fields, trails, tennis courts and a concession restroom building were added.
The park features a fitness course loop that begins and ends at a Pulse Monitor Check station. There are eight stations, including the Pulse Monitor Check station. The stations are unnumbered but are located along a paved path through the front section of the park, making numbering unnecessary. The posted coordinates take you to the Pulse Monitor Check station. The course starts near the park's playground then wanders around a small pond and then past a community center and a swimming pool. The course then crosses the main road running through the park and takes you through a lightly wooded area and past the golf clubhouse and then to the main entrance to the park. The course doubles back for a couple of hundred feet from the main entrance to another road crossing that leads you past the tennis courts and the playground and back to the Pulse Monitor Check station.
Blue Cypress Park is located just north of Jacksonville University at 4012 N. University Blvd.
Photos by Daniel Herbin
Share this article
RSS
TheProfessor
July 21, 2009, 10:04:07 AMIt has a cool little beach area on the river, good for dolphin watching.
Lunican
July 21, 2009, 10:09:21 AMWhen I was there, the beach area was covered with little crabs.
ohhkristin
July 21, 2009, 11:04:21 AMI think I'm golfing there on Weds at 945am. It's like 14 bucks for college students.
Shwaz
July 21, 2009, 11:33:32 AMI've never been to or even heard of Blue Cypress but it looks great!
A small marina would be nice for boater access... maybe if the beach there is large enough you could just set anchor and enter the park that way.
Walking
Riding
Member
Walking
Riding
Member
Lunican
July 21, 2009, 11:38:34 AMThere is a boat ramp on the northern border of the park.
Shwaz
July 21, 2009, 12:15:10 PMThis maybe my new favorite spot
ralpho37
July 21, 2009, 12:29:04 PMBeautiful area... These places are why Jacksonville is so great.
thelakelander
July 21, 2009, 01:48:13 PMBeautiful place indeed. I'm going to have to check it out.
stjr
July 21, 2009, 03:33:02 PMVery nice, a real gem based on the pix. Just curious, how many acres?
thelakelander
July 21, 2009, 03:56:03 PMRoughly 120 acres.
Park Type: Regional
Council Person: Clay Yarborough
History: The city-owned park named Blue Cypress in the Arlington section of Jacksonville, was at one time a local 18-hole golf course for the Edenfield River Estates development. Because the park is located in an environmentally sensitive area, plans were developed to reduce the course to a 9-hole golf course and use the remaining area for a natural, resourced-based public outdoor recreation site. The original facilities include a community center (former clubhouse) and swimming pool, golf course and tennis courts. In July 2001 the fishing dock, and a boardwalk along the St. John’s River were completed. In 2003 the 9 hole golf course opened. In 2004, soccer fields, trails, tennis courts and a concession restroom building were added.
http://apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp?parkid=188
JaxNative68
July 21, 2009, 04:18:34 PMIt originally was a private course which operated as University Golf & Country Club for many decades before becoming Blue Cypress. I don't exactly remember the dates in which it was UGCC, but I do remember playing there as a kid in the mid 80's and it was a challenging course due to its tight fairways. Unfortunately when the golf course boom hit Jacksonville, it was unable to compete and went belly up. It then became Blue Cypress and too had a hard time staying afloat and eventually closed. It sat vacant and unattended for many years until being taken over by the City of Jacksonville. The 18-hole course turned into a 9-hole course, driving range, soccer fields and dock. Some of the holes are the original layout, but the majority of them have been shortened to accommodate the access to the dock, new clubhouse location and new driving range location. Money still seams tight out there and the course reflects this. The greens are usually fuzzy with thin grass and dirt and the fairways resemble an unattended pasture. If comparing it to the First Tee of Jacksonville off Golfair Blvd. The First Tee blows it away in price and playing conditions.
The soccer field area is nice. The dock is very nice. The pool is out dated. I have not experienced the hiking trails, but I’m told to beware of mountain bikes.
When it comes to golf, believe in Ty Webb.
Shwaz
July 21, 2009, 05:20:25 PMThe soccer field area is nice. The dock is very nice. The pool is out dated. I have not experienced the hiking trails, but I’m told to beware of mountain bikes.
When it comes to golf, believe in Ty Webb.
Sounds like the course is a mix of Mill Cove, Quail Heights and Jax Beach
JaxNative68
July 21, 2009, 05:26:15 PMthe course as is now is worse than Mill Cove and more expensive to play 18 holes.
Shwaz
July 21, 2009, 05:44:09 PMThanks for the heads up...
Overstreet
October 19, 2009, 04:50:44 PMThe boat ramp at the northern boundry is the Arlington Lions Ramp. Plenty of parking. Finger piers can be "bumpy" when the tugs go by.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+Services/Waterfront+Management+and+Programming/Waterways+and+Boating/16.++Arlington+Lions+Club.htm
Lunican
Yesterday at 10:34:00 AMJACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 20, 2009 – Jacksonville families are invited to the Blue Cypress Community Center to enjoy a free viewing of the film “Imagine That” (rated PG) at JaxParks’ Movies in the Park. Family activities and free refreshments will also be provided. This Movies in the Park event is part of JaxParks’ fee year-long movie series presented by Winn Dixie.
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 20
6 - 9 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Cypress Community Center
4012 University Blvd. -- 32277
For more information on events and activities hosted by the Recreation and Community Services Department, call 630-CITY or visit www.jaxparks.com.