Office of the Director
This office provides executive, administrative and management direction to all divisions in the Recreations and Community Services Department. It works as a liaison for the city with the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville Human Rights Commission and Medical Examiner. It also manages the Special Events Office, The Ritz Theatre and Museum, the Cooperative Extension Service and Grant Compliance. This division has 55 employees.
This year, the Special Events Office will continue to plan and implement activities that contribute to Jacksonville’s quality of life and highlight downtown including the Veterans Day Parade, World of Nations Celebration, Fourth of July Celebration, Starry Nights, Georgia-Florida Football Classic, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the Jacksonville Light Parade and numerous senior events, among many others that collectively bring in more than $200 million of economic impact every year.
The Grants Compliance Unit, which also falls under this office’s purview, will administer 59 Public Service Grant programs, eight Jacksonville Journey ex-offender programs, two YouthBuild offender and ex-offender programs and four Justice Assistance grants.
The community relations office educates the public about opportunities available in JaxParks including programming, events and partner/donor opportunities. Outreach activities the office performs include social media communications, a seasonal activities guide and a quarterly newsletter. The office secures support from donors, sponsors and partners to continue and improve JaxParks offerings. The office also oversees community-based events, with sponsor support, that provide fun recreational and educational opportunities to families.
2011 Budget:
The budget for the Office of the Director is $17,140,727.
2010 Budget:
The budget for the Office of the Director was $16,685,852.
Did You Know?
More than 12,000 school children travel through the World of Nations celebration on field trips each year.