Jacksonville city parks could soon be hosting more events and getting some upgrades under a National Park Service partnership unveiled Thursday.
Jacksonville is one of 10 cities selected for the Park Service’s Urban Agenda Initiative.
It’s a list that includes New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston and Philadelphia.
"And I love it that we beat Chicago," Mayor Alvin Brown joked. "That’s what I love.”
Brown announced Jacksonville’s selection as an Urban Agenda Model City at downtown’s Confederate Park.
Chris Abbott with the National Park Service said it means a special Park Service liaison will be stationed in Jacksonville to help the city get the most out of its parks over the next couple years.
"It’s basically saying, ‘It’s OK to serve urban areas. It’s OK for Park Service to become very, very involved in urban areas,’ Abbott said, "because we have to do that for our long-term survival as an agency.”
Abbott says the Park Service could contribute technical help, funding and personnel, depending on the city’s needs.
