Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park

Our Mission:

Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and contracted with the City of Jacksonville to revitalize the city’s first and most historic public park. James Weldon Johnson Park is located in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville, adjacent to City Hall, the main branch of the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Our mission is to transform James Weldon Johnson Park into a modern, urban space that engages diverse communities and restores vitality to our city’s public square. We accomplish this by adding and maintaining landscaping and amenities and providing daily programming. Our mission is to serve as a modern, urban space, engaging diverse communities and restore vitality to the public square that is the heartbeat of our city.

Our Core Values:

Service to All Our Community - We intentionally bring all people together to enjoy a shared public space and each other so the vibrancy of downtown and our quality of life is enhanced.

Progress - We honor our history as we commit to listen and grow alongside the community to build a brighter future.

Quality - We lead with our best efforts to provide the highest quality experiences for all who gather.

Passion - We are motivated by the shared energy and joy that’s created when people come together.

Teamwork - We love to collaborate and believe we’re stronger when we work together.

Our History:

James Weldon Johnson Park, a 1.5-acre public square in the center of the city, is Jacksonville’s first and oldest park and the site of many significant historic events. Land for the public square – identified in Isaiah Hart’s original plans for Jacksonville – was sold to the city in 1866 by Hart’s heirs, for a price of $10. The park became the cultural and social center of the city, and for over a century it was the heart of downtown, the hub of commerce, and the public meeting place for citizens from all walks of life.

James Weldon Johnson Park honors the legacy of the acclaimed writer, educator, and civil rights leader who called Jacksonville home. The park serves as both a natural retreat and a cultural landmark in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville.

Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park produces experiences that foster inclusivity and contribute to the continued transformation of downtown Jacksonville into a thriving hub of energy and connection. We are innovators in forming a sense of identity through events featuring music, dance, performance and visual art, food and drink.

Our park ambassadors and security welcome and share information with our guests while ensuring that James Weldon Johnson Park is clean and safe. Our programming is informed and supported by a variety of community partnerships.

James Weldon Johnson Park serves as a vibrant community hub in downtown Jacksonville, providing accessible green space, cultural programming, and opportunities for connection that strengthen our neighborhood and celebrate our shared heritage.

We like to say we’re not just a park, but a gathering place where neighbors become friends, where children play and learn, and where our community comes together to celebrate our shared values of neighborhood pride, unity, and collective wellness.