A.G. Gancarski
Amidst revenue problems and a lack of confidence from Jacksonville’s executive and legislative branch, Executive Director Vince Cavin resigned from Friends of Hemming Park over the weekend.
This was announced to a city council committee Monday morning.
Cavin’s resignation letter was quoted as follows by WJXT:
“I hope my departure can alleviate ongoing distractions related to past decisions and help push the necessary conversation about what is the best direction for the park and its next level of achievement,” Cavin wrote.
This move comes on the heels of an announcement last week that FOHP was cutting the live musical performances during lunch hours at the park, which often featured soulful acoustic covers of popular songs from the 20th century.
As well, FOHP was faced with a challenge in next year’s proposed city budget to do more with less.
The group was allocated $250,000 for six months of operations, which will require cuts in the traditional operating structure for the park.
When asked how FOHP would take the cut, Mayor Lenny Curry smiled and said “we’ll see.”
Proponents of the Friends of Hemming Park model likely will frame this move as another setback for downtown revitalization. However, in a tough fiscal year in which operational dollars are at a premium, it has become clear that the city no longer was willing to accommodate Cavin’s expansive vision for park revitalization.
Wayne Wood will coordinate programming going forward, WJXT reports.
