$20M in renovations proposed at Met Park - Jacksonville Business Journal:

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“The St. Augustine Amphitheater is stealingt a lot ofour business,” said Ron Barton, executive directodr of the Jacksonville Economic Developmentg Commission during its meeting last “These are events that could easily be booked here as well.” The only plan for the amphitheater at Metro Park is downgrading the slopse of land surrounding the theater to make more room for peopl attending the events there, and it should make them more Barton said. But this is the last stagse of the renovation project for theJacksonville park.
Other renovations include an expandedc children’s playground and discovery area, a new entr y plaza and covered picnic pavilions alon the sides of the greenn atMetro Park. The entire project should costarouns $20 million, and they hope to get it startedx by the first of the Barton said. “A good park like this could be just as effectivew as agood arena,” he said. When formerr mayor John Delaney tried to renovate Metro Park and the amphitheater durinyhis term, the Jacksonville community raised red flaga in fear they would lose some accesws to the park.
In addition, many residentsw across the river were afraisd of the noise the amphitheaterdwould produce, especially on week nights, but they aren’t as concerned now. “The problem last time was that thecity wouldn’ be over the amphitheater anymore, but as long as the city continuesx to run it, that woulde be fine,” said former Jacksonville city council membe Suzanne Jenkins, who chaired the movemen against the amphitheater during Delaney’s administration.
“Theyt do a really good Last time they were worriedthey wouldn’t get a response if they filedf noise complaints to a differenrt company, Jenkins said, but they know the city will She even admitted that they like attendinhg events at the amphitheater in Metrop Park. “I can understand. I’vde been to some things there, and the wholew community across the river is used to itby now,” she “I think this is definitely a dialogue worth