Urban Parks: Main Street Pocket Park

[Ken_FSU]

Reopened.

Got some better pictures today.

Hilariously, the city has covered every possible seating area with planters.

If you and your coworkers are looking for a spot to stand in a circle on brick pavers, the Main Street Pocket Park has you covered.

[Papa33]

You'll be able to sit on those planters without getting your butt dirty soon enough.

[bl8jaxnative]

If you and your coworkers are looking for a spot to stand in a circle on brick pavers,

That's an improvement compared to the nasty cloud of ammonia ( stale urine ) + such that it had before.

[thelakelander]

Lol give it six months.

[Ken_FSU]

What cracks me up is that it's been reopened for a week or two, and I've yet to see a single human being step foot in the "park."

Leave it to the city to create a public space that's equally uninviting to the homeless and non-homeless alike.

[fieldafm]

What cracks me up is that it's been reopened for a week or two, and I've yet to see a single human being step foot in the "park."

Leave it to the city to create a public space that's equally uninviting to the homeless and non-homeless alike.

On the weekdays, the Ambassadors have had a heavy presence in the pocket park, which is why you don't see as much 'activity'.

On the weekends, when Ambassador presence is less, there are still food drop offs for the homeless that happen here (pocket park) on Saturday and Sundays.... and the vagrancy (sleeping on sidewalks, standing in the middle of the street and a few of the chronic drug dealers) still stretch along Main Street from the library (and pocket park) up to the 7-11. The latter happens 7 days a week.

[Ken_FSU]

^Do you know if there's any additional plans for the park (I remember hearing public art at one point), or if this is its new final form?

Even some movable furniture like at Hemming and some of the other micro parks would go a long way.

[fieldafm]

^Do you know if there's any additional plans for the park (I remember hearing public art at one point), or if this is its new final form?

Even some movable furniture like at Hemming and some of the other micro parks would go a long way.

DVI was going to 'program' the park with a food truck during the week.  With Burrito Gallery and Indochine open and struggling just next door, I hope that 'plan' is now dead. I also believe no food truck had any interest in going there (and with good reason).

About $2 million has been spent on this pathetic patch of land. And we wonder why Downtown struggles?

[fieldafm]

BTW, from personal experience, those planters will be trashed in short order.  The transients REALLY love ripping out flowers, pissing in them and throwing burning things in them.   

[tufsu1]

What cracks me up is that it's been reopened for a week or two, and I've yet to see a single human being step foot in the "park."

Leave it to the city to create a public space that's equally uninviting to the homeless and non-homeless alike.

there will likely be some people there Friday evening - kickoff for the Cathedral District Jax's holiday lights program

[acme54321]

BTW, from personal experience, those planters will be trashed in short order.  The transients REALLY love ripping out flowers, pissing in them and throwing burning things in them.

But I thought they weren't the problem?

[heights unknown]

I thought parks were created for us humans to enjoy, not to sit empty, with no benches (and I understand why no benches), no rest rooms, etc. Otherwise, just leave it as it once was...an empty lot!

[Ken_FSU]

Another definition of insanity example.

City closes ill-advised Main Street pocket park for nearly two years because it had become a haven for the homeless.

Decides against turning it into a dog park and instead spends another million or so to slightly redesign it.

And, it now seems as though the homeless have started to moved back in, putting us right back where we started with this spot.

And the years tick on…

[vicupstate]

Another definition of insanity example.

City closes ill-advised Main Street pocket park for nearly two years because it had become a haven for the homeless.

Decides against turning it into a dog park and instead spends another million or so to slightly redesign it.

And, it now seems as though the homeless have started to moved back in, putting us right back where we started with this spot.

And the years tick on…

If only someone had made the case AGAINST a pocket park when it was proposed......

Yes, that is sarcasm.