Publisher’s Note
Spring is here—the time of year that beckons us to get outside and enjoy the outdoors and fresh air while walking, exploring, and much more. All just in time to check out the newest parks and trail connections downtown and along the river.
WHERE THE RIVER LEADS
Downtown Jacksonville’s parks and trails are living works of civic art. Our city center is in the midst of a generational design movement—one that treats parks and trails not as passive green space, but as active civic infrastructure and works of public art. Across the Northbank and Southbank of the St. Johns River, landscape architects, engineers, artists, nonprofits, philanthropists, and public officials are composing a connected urban experience rooted in movement, belonging, and wellness (see page 26).
WHERE THE RIVER LEADS TO STORIES TOLD THROUGH PUBLIC ART
We often hear, “What is Jacksonville’s identity?” That is a question that is difficult to answer. However, a city’s identity can be shaped and expressed through public art.
There is a plethora of public art installations along downtown Jacksonville’s parks and trails with a few standouts along the way. See the article starting on page 38 to discover some of the best public art installations in Jacksonville.
Several amazing small businesses with a big focus on health, wellness, and whole-body healing can be found in the Brooklyn and Riverside areas within the parks and trials corridors.
While you are out walking in downtown be sure to check out the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville’s current exhibition “Whitney Oldenburg: left behind.” A dynamic emerging sculptor who grew up here in Jacksonville but is now working out of New York, Oldenburg has cultivated a deeply reflective practice examining the relationships we build with everyday items (see page 70).
Put a little spring in your step and reap the health benefits of movement while enjoying the culture our city has to offer.
Cinda Sherman, Publisher
