Riverside Avondale partners, city staff outline plan for Peace Memorial Rose Garden Park improvements

Matt Carlucci, an at-large member of the Jacksonville City Council, outlined a plan to advance improvements to the Peace Memorial Rose Garden Park on Park Street between Cherry and Mallory, across from the Willow Branch Library. The proposal, a partnership among Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP), private donors Wayne and Dolores Weaver, and the City of Jacksonville, centers on a labyrinth, landscaping, lighting and a commemorative wall.

The project team has produced a conceptual layout and RAP has committed $130,000 toward the labyrinth, Daryl Jones of the Parks Department said. "They're providing us some additional information later on this week that we would then draft up legislation and bring that forth to city council," Jones said. Carlucci said he has met with RAP and the Weavers and described the park as "a showcase" when completed.

Why it matters: The park sits next to a neighborhood library and has drawn community attention; city staff said they will carry the conceptual design into formal legislation so work can begin if the City Council approves funding and any related agreements. Councilmember Jimmy Paluso said residents are "incredibly excited" about the labyrinth but raised questions about the proposed obelisk at the park's center: "I really wanna know how large it's gonna be. I really, I don't personally like it," Paluso said, and asked for further review before a final design is adopted.

City staff said the obelisk shown on the conceptual plan is a placeholder and that an art selection process remains to be completed. Jones said the Parks Department wants the central artwork to be "something focal, definitely... commemorative of the neighborhood," and welcomed additional input. Council members discussed engaging the Cultural Council to involve local artists in choosing public art.

The conceptual plan also includes a low wall with markers to record partners' contributions and the park's history, Jones said. "The wall component really ties into making sure, that the various partners are recognized and the history of the park is actually detailed," he said. Carlucci said the Community Foundation is working on a grant or contract that could provide maintenance funding.

Timing and next steps: City staff said they expect additional information from RAP and donors this week and plan to draft legislation to introduce the item on the next City Council agenda. "We're gonna see this as a grant," Jones said about the Community Foundation arrangement, and the Parks Department said the legislation would be introduced to secure funding and authorization to proceed. Councilmembers agreed the conceptual status of the design would allow adjustments after introduction.

Speakers during the discussion included Councilmember Matt Carlucci (at-large), Councilmember Jimmy Paluso (District 7), Daryl Jones (Parks Department), and Phillip/Philip Peterson (Council office staff), and community donors Wayne and Dolores Weaver were referenced by name. No formal vote was taken during the meeting; staff said proposed legislation will be prepared for the City Council agenda.

The discussion occurred during a District 7 meeting and combined community partner commitments with staff planning; officials emphasized the proposal remains conceptual and that public-art selection, exact dimensions of the proposed obelisk and final funding and maintenance details will be resolved as the legislation is drafted.