Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park is proud to host events in James Weldon Johnson Park located at 135 W. Monroe Street in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville. All activities listed below are free and open to the public. 

Community partner Jessie Ball duPont Fund announces formal fundraising campaign for project and overall commitments of $2.5 million for park development and programming

Individuals who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Clanzel T. Brown Senior Center may return to the site for their second shot this Friday and Saturday. Those who were given their first shot on Friday, Feb. 5, should return Friday, Feb. 26, while those whose first injection was on Saturday, Feb. 6, should return Saturday, Feb. 27. Individuals should arrive within the hour associated with the first letter of their last name. The time slots are as follows:

The PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program has named Jacksonville the 19^th best city in the nation for veterans to start a business.

The City of Jacksonville announced plans to use a $28.9 million grant from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help Duval County residents affected by the pandemic. The funds will be available to citizens to cover up to 12 months of rent and utility payments with the option for an additional three months if determined necessary to ensure housing stability. Partnering agency, the United Way of Northeast Florida, will distribute $23.8 million for rental assistance. The City will process the applications and work in partnership with JEA to distribute the remaining $5 million to thousands of eligible customer accounts with past due utility balances. The City will determine eligibility based on the standards below.

Beginning Monday, the Mandarin and Lane Wiley Senior Centers that were utilized for vaccine distribution will return to providing COVID-19 testing.

The City of Jacksonville's Military Affairs and Veterans Department, in partnership with the IRS and United Way, is offering free tax preparation services to veterans. Representatives will be available Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall – St. James (117 W. Duval St., Suite 175). An appointment must be made by calling (904) 255-5551.

Individuals Must Return to the Site Where the First Shot was Administered
 

In observance of Presidents Day, the following City government offices and facilities will be closed Monday, Feb. 15.

The City of Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) is celebrating Valentine’s Day by educating the community about adoptable animals and encouraging potential pet adopters and fosters to visit ACPS’ featured Valentine’s Day pets. All featured pets are the shelter’s longest furry guests, are favorites of staff and volunteers and ready to add some love to your life.

Mayor Lenny Curry has partnered with City Council members Brenda Priestly-Jackson, Vice-President Sam Newby and Ju’Coby Pittman to announce details of a new plan to continue septic tank phaseouts. The City of Jacksonville will put forth $14.3 million while JEA will add another $12.5 million to complete the project.
 

The Jacksonville Icemen, along with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced today the details regarding the Guns ‘n Hoses charity hockey game presented by CSX, First Watch and H2 Health to be played at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday February 20 at 3:00 p.m.  Local law enforcement, fire fighters, EMTs and military personnel will participate in a hockey game to raise money for FOP and JFRD supported charities.

Vaccines will be administered at Clanzel T. Brown Senior Center (4575 Moncrief Road – 32209) Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. By State order, the vaccines are still limited to individuals who are 65 years of age or older, frontline medical personnel or first responders. The Florida Health Department has supplied the City with 975 vials of each dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Five hundred vaccines will be administered the first day, while the remaining 475 will be administered the following day.

The City of Jacksonville and the COVID-19 Shelter Taskforce announced the launch of an initiative that expands resources for people experiencing homelessness. The Pathway to Home Program — created through a collaboration with the City of Jacksonville, Sulzbacher, Mental Health Resource Center, Changing Homelessness, additional area homeless providers, Downtown Vision and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office — will provide individuals living in unsheltered areas with a local extended-stay hotel room and food assistance for 30 days. During this period, case managers will work with each participant to secure permanent housing through Rapid Re-housing.

Celebrate Black History Month with James Weldon Johnson Park