The playground re-opening is the first of many milestones for LIFT JAX as it works to improve infrastructure in Eastside parks.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 26, 2023) – LIFT JAX, in partnership with the Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation (HECDC) and the City of Jacksonville Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, announced the grand re-opening of the playground at Flossie Brunson Eastside Park on April 25 with a ribbon cutting and community celebration. Located at 1050 Franklin St., the 7.4-acre park features brand-new playground equipment, a baseball field, two basketball courts and a multi-use field.
The new, inclusive playground combines a variety of play structures for children of all physical abilities from ages two through 12+. The ground surface, made from a material called poured in place (PIP) rubber surfacing, provides easy access for wheelchairs and is a safer ground material for play. The brand-new equipment includes the Sky Twister with a slide and various self-directed challenges, climbing and rope mazes, hang out spots for socialization, slides, sliding poles, a 3-bay swing with infant seats and a Birds Nest swing for one or multiple children, two Spinner Bowls and a Tipi Spinner.
“It has been many years since the playground at Flossie Brunson Eastside Park was last upgraded and we recognized the need for a refresh,” said David Garfunkel, President of LIFT JAX. “The new, state-of-the-art playground contributes to community wellness in the neighborhood by creating a safe place for children and families to gather and play in the heart of the Eastside.”
In collaboration with the City of Jacksonville’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, LIFT JAX will continue to invest in local parks. These investments include new lighting on the multi-use field, re-surfacing the basketball courts, updating the splashpad and more new amenities as Flossie Brunson Eastside Park; and new walking paths, a new pavilion, upgraded fencing, and new amenities like benches, grills and tables at A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park.
To bring the new playground to life, LIFT JAX is proud to have partnered with the City of Jacksonville’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the HECDC, with contributions from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Florida Blue, Friends of Jax Playgrounds and the Chartrand Family.
Learn more about LIFT JAX’s work in Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside at liftjax.org.
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ABOUT LIFT JAX
The seeds for LIFT JAX were planted in 2017 when a cross-sector group of Jacksonville’s business and community leaders convened to plot a path to eliminate poverty in the city. LIFT JAX’s flagship strategy is to implement the Purpose Built Communities model in Jacksonville’s Eastside, affectionately known as Out East. The nationally recognized model has transformed poverty-stricken areas across the country and is based on a coordinated, holistic approach to revitalization, including high-quality, mixed-income housing; cradle-to-career education; community wellness; and long-term financial vitality for residents. As the Community Quarterback, LIFT JAX is working with Eastside residents directly to identify pressing community needs and bring together partners to address them. For more information about LIFT JAX and Jacksonville’s Eastside, and to get involved, visit liftjax.org.