Groundwork Jacksonville Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING ABOUT THE SUSTAINED REGENERATION, IMPROVEMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING IN THE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AREA. THE ORGANIZATION IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND GROUNDWORK USA, INC. AND IS ONE OF 21 SUCH TRUSTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE IS SPECIFICALLY CHARGED WITH DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A 30-MILE BICYCLE/PEDESTRAIN TRAIL AND LINEAR PARKS SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF MCCOYS AND HOGANS CREEKS. THE EMERALD TRAIL WILL CONNECT 14 URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN, AND LINK TO 16 SCHOOLS, 2 COLLEGES AND 21 PARKS. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS BEING MADE IN MAJORITY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE 71% OF RESIDENTS ARE LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME AND 35% LIVE IN POVERTY.

DURING THE GREEN TEAM 2021 FALL FELLOWSHIP, THE YOUTH PLANTED A POLLINATOR GARDEN ON THE S-LINE BIODIVERSITY COORIDOR. FELLOWS LEARNED ABOUT TOPICS SUCH AS NATIVE ECOLOGY, THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATORS, AND INDIGENOUS PLANT HISTORY. FELLOWS ALSO CONSTRUCTED "BEE HOTELS" TO PROMOTE BEE HABITAT ON THE S-LINE BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR. IN SPRING 2022, GREEN TEAM YOUTH PLANNED GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE'S EARTH DAY EVENT. FELLOWS TRAINED IN EVENT PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH GWJAX STAFF. THE FELLOWS THEN HOSTED THE EARTH DAY EVENT ON APRIL 23RD ON THE S-LINE. THE EVENT WAS A SUCCESS, WITH OVER 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE, AND 27 LOCAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS. IN SUMMER 2022, GREEN TEAM CONSTRUCTED A LIVING SHORELINE AT KINGSLEY PLANTATION IN COLLABORATION WITH UNF AND THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE. THIS LIVING SHORELINE WILL PROTECT THE PARK'S HISTORICAL RESOURCES AGAINST EROSION AND RISING SEAS. APPRENTICES ENGAGED IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION OF POSH (PERVIOUS OYSTER SHELL HABITAT) UNITS, AN INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR PROMOTING OYSTER REEF RESTORATION DEVELOPED BY DR KELLY SMITH'S BIOLOGY LAB AND DR. RAPHAEL CROWLEY'S ENGINEERING LAB.

GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE COMPLETED THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF HOGANS CREEK, THE SECOND OF TWO CREEKS WITHIN THE EMERALD TRAIL PROJECT. THE CREEK IS ALMOST THREE MILES IN LENGTH; CURRENTLY FLOODS; ITS INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING, AND THE WATER AND SOME OF THE SURROUNDING LAND ARE CONTAMINATED. GWJAX HAS SECURED A 5.9M GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION TO COMPLETE THE RESTORATION DESIGN. THE DESIGN PROJECT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS.

GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE ALSO HAS SECURED 10.3M IN FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT THE MCCOYS CREEK BRANCHES PROJECT. CONSTRUCTION FUNDS WERE SECURED AS FOLLOWS: 50% FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 25% FROM THE NATIONAL OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AND 25% FROM THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. THE BRANCHES SIT WITHIN A 30-ACRE CITY-OWNED PARK AND ARE THE CREEK'S HEADWATERS. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY JANUARY 2024. PHASE 1 OF MCCOYS CREEK FROM I-95 WEST TO KING ST. CURRENTLY IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

EMERALD TRAIL: CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST TRAIL SEGMENT (1.3 MILES) HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS THAT ARE AFFECTING MANY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY FALL 2023. THE FIRST TRAIL SEGMENT IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC LAVILLA NEIGHBORHOOD IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE, AND WILL CONNECT TO THE EXISTING S-LINE RAIL TRAIL. THE TRAIL SEGMENT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF 9 ACRES OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND TRAIL SEGMENT (.9 MILES) SHOULD BE UNDERWAY BY THE END OF 2023. THIS SEGMENT CONVERTS A TWO-LANE ONE-WAY STREET TO ONE LANE OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO ACCOMMODATE A TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK. IT WILL CONNECT FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE AND THE SPRINGFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD TO DOWNTOWN AND THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.