In 1976, construction began on the newest sub-division in Jacksonville Beach. With street names like "America Avenue" and "Declaration Drive," the neighborhood was called "Constitution Cove," to celebrate the USA's Bicentennial.
A few years later, my wife and I bought one of the last homes built in the neighborhood and we had the pleasure of raising our children on Colonies Drive. My kids played non-stop in an undeveloped area behind my house that we called "the field." Along with other kids in the neighborhood, countless days were spent exploring this 13 acres of woodlands.
After several years, it became known that the area was a former landfill, and we were told it could never be developed. This all changed about 10 years ago, when several homes were built at the south end of Colonies Drive. These homes were built on sophisticated foundations after core sampling was done, but due to the high cost of land in Jax Beach, the homes were valuable enough to spend the extra money on. Core sampling has been completed in recent years on the remainder of the field, when the city considered using this former landfill site for a retention pond for drainage purposes. So now we have to face the real possibility that the field will become a residential development.
Although technically listed as a park now, the field is now mostly used for construction equipment and materials storage for city infrastructure projects. This 13-acre parcel could become a real gem for the Jacksonville Beaches. With very little effort, like simply regular mowing, clearing small brush and removing construction debris dumped there through the years, the park could have open fields, walking trails, natural preserve areas, dog parks under the shade of historic trees, and provide a permanent paved access to the Beaches Energy lift station on the site. I'm sure residents would love to weigh in on the possible public uses for this city owned property.
Unfortunately, if nothing is done, depending on the future makeup of the city council, a developer could eventually get ahold of the land and decide the highest and best use is to create high density residential. While this part of Jax Beach could definitely use some more passive outdoor space for the public to enjoy, the last thing the area needs is hundreds of townhomes. Why not create something the community needs, rather than something almost nobody wants?
This park can be created with very little capital support, and most of the initial work could be done with volunteers and existing city equipment and labor. And the first step costs absolutely nothing, the City just needs to formally dedicate and name the park to save it from a future of development.
And now 50 years after the construction of Constitution Cove, what better way to celebrate USA's 250th anniversary, than to create Constitution Park.
Please help spread the word about this city asset and encourage city leaders to officially dedicate and name this property as an official city park to discourage developers from getting their hands on it.
Robin and Darry Smith
Constitution Cove residents since 1980
