Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

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In Jacksonville, friendships aren’t meant to last forever. But in the case of Friends of Hemming Park, they are renewable in six-month terms. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote senior staff this week with the news that the once-controversial FOHP contract would be re-upped through the end of September. “Based on our discussions with Bill Prescott, it is […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2016

On Wednesday afternoon, Jacksonville City Council members convened to discuss a recurrent topic: enforcing regulations in Hemming Park. The so-called “front door to city hall” has encountered challenges of late, with the most recent narrative twist being the mayor’s office saying last week that it was time that the “Friends of Hemming Park” experiment end. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 19, 2016

Can new rules and stricter enforcement help to regulate the unruly denizens of one of Jacksonville’s showcase parks? Jacksonville City Council members John Crescimbeni and Scott Wilson convened Wednesday to discuss issues related to code and ordinance enforcement in Hemming Park. A recurrent issue over years is problems with park regulars drinking and engaging in other illicit […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council will take yet another in an endless series of looks at the contract for the Friends of Hemming Park on Thursday afternoon. Though the long-suffering group, which manages the 1.54 acre park called “the Front Door to City Hall” by many politicians, is earmarked to receive $250,000 for six months of operation […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee approved on Wednesday $58,000 of new money for the operation of Friends of Hemming Park. The vote was 4-1. That translates to two months of a monthly operating budget of $29,000, and would be a one-time dispersal. The bill requires the following conditions: a requirement of FOHP to establish a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2016

In one of the longest running and most depressing soap operas in Jacksonville history, the city council’s Hemming Park special committee met Wednesday, agreeing reluctantly to amend 2016-385, which would have appropriated $150,000 to Friends of Hemming Park (FOHP). The committee opted to amend the bill to approve two months of operating funds — $29,000 a month. […]

Tag: Bill Prescott

Jacksonville re-ups Friends of Hemming Park contract for 6 months, $415K

Uncertainty over Hemming Park’s future pervades discussion of park rules

New rules for old problems at Hemming Park

Jacksonville City Council panel to review Hemming Park contract Thursday

Jacksonville City Council finance committee OKs $58,000 for Hemming Park operations

The Hemming Park experiment looks likely to limp along for a while longer