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Enjoying and Protecting Your World

, 2005

The Sierra Club’s mantra is "Explore, enjoy and protect the planet." Much can be experienced right here at home in northeast Florida! We are very lucky to have such a range of wonderful opportunities in the outdoors around here. However, this can be ephemeral—unless we protect it. In Duval County and somewhat into nearby counties, the Jacksonville Preservation Project has reserved a very remarkable range of lands for exploring, enjoying and – needing protecting right now and for our future. Established in 1999 by then Mayor John Delaney, the PP has preserved over 52,000 acres (80+ square miles) of pristine areas around our city.

In January, we will have another opportunity to learn about the Preservation Project at our general meeting—and to learn about ways that we can get more involved throughout 2006. We need to help protect the lands of the Preservation Project, so they don’t get converted to ancillary uses—just because they are "available"; so they are made accessible so folks can learn to appreciate them; so they are added to when the right opportunity comes around.

Right now, though, the leaders of the City of Jacksonville need to hear your voices rise to help the city undertake the recommendations developed from the well researched and studied Parks Task Force Report of March 2005. When you see this newsletter, please immediately contact your City Council representative and let them know they should support the Mayor’s proposal to reorganize the city Parks department, so it gains professional standing, has better leadership and is more deeply & regularly funded—so the goals targeted by the Task Force can be reached. Please let your Jacksonville city council representative know that you support Ordinance 2005-1283. One can learn more about the Parks Task Force and its recommendations on the web at www.coj.net/Departments/Parks+and+Recreation/Parks+Task+Force.

The Council will be making its last moves on this early in December, so don’t delay. One more thing—don’t forget to visit one of these parks and preserves soon—you’ll really appreciate them when you see them yourself.