Q: What can you tell us about the Art in Public Places project?
A: Losco and Chuck Rogers parks in Mandarin will be enhanced by new interactive works of public art. At Chuck Rogers Park, the art will be soccer themed, since the park is utilized by a youth soccer league. At Losco Park, the new interactive sculpture will complement the number of amenities already included in the park such as trails, playground, picnic shelters, picnic tables and benches. We are in the process of securing bids and project ideas from artists and a community board for Art in Public Places will make the final decision and award the projects in late March. We are hoping to have installation done by the end of July. Funding for this art comes from the lease of the communications tower at Alberts Field. All funds from this lease must be used for parks.


Q: Do you have an update on park and/or public works improvements in Mandarin?
A: The project to change the two three-way intersections of Orange Picker Road and Brady Road into a single four-way intersection is moving along. The parking lot configuration for Alberts Field that saves the most trees in the parking area has been agreed upon by Parks and Recreation and the layout of the parking and roadway supplies needed are being gathered to establish a cost estimate, which will move the project from the planning to the design phase.

Pickleball courts are coming to Walter Anderson Park, adjacent to the baseball field along Orange Picker Road. The Parks Department has begun surfacing of the courts and work is supposed to be finished by this summer.

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Mandarin Park’s dock and kayak launch project has been awarded and the contract execution is underway.

County Dock Road is having traffic calming devices installed between Mandarin Road and the County Dock. A lower speed limit is also coming on this road.

Q: What else do you have to share with District 6?
A: Councilmember Joyce Morgan and I are hosting a series of workshops, via Zoom, entitled “Safer Together.” The focus is on the relationship between the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) and the community it serves. My focus as council member is to try to enhance community policing efforts. The workshops are also attended by JSO management and are facilitated by Dr. Tammy Hodo, a Mandarin resident with a great deal of experience in diversity workshops. Future dates of these workshops are:|
March 5, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.; April 5, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.; May 3, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; and May 21, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Community members who are interested in attending should contact my office for the Zoom call information.

Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you?

A: Community members can email me at MBoylan@coj.net or call (904) 255-5206.

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