Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens facts for kids

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

Formation	March 2004
Type	Non-profit
Legal status	Corporation
Purpose	Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Region served	Jacksonville metropolitan area
Executive Director	Diane Machaby
Main organ	Board of Directors
Location	1445 Millcoe Road
Nearest city	Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Area	126.82-acre (51.32 ha)
Created	November 15, 2008 (2008-11-15)
Open	8am - 5pm, 365 days/year
Awards	Civic Horticultural Leadership Award HandsOn Earth Award

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens (JAG) is a special park in Jacksonville, Florida. It is run by a non-profit group, which means it's not for making money. The park is like a big outdoor museum for trees and plants. It covers about 126.82-acre (51.32 ha) of land owned by the city. The arboretum first opened its doors on November 15, 2008. The Sierra Club of Northeast Florida said that creating this park was a huge community effort. It was one of the biggest projects ever done by volunteers.

History of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

Between 1941 and 1961, a company called Humphries Gold Mining Company used to dig up minerals like zircon here. These minerals were needed to make titanium. The mining process removed the good soil and nutrients. This left behind mostly white sand with very few plants. After the mining stopped, the land became a wild area. Sadly, people used it as an unofficial dumping ground for old appliances, cars, and other trash.

In the 1970s, the city of Jacksonville bought the land. They wanted it to act as a natural barrier near a water treatment plant. For thirty years, the land was left alone. During this time, amazing things happened! Thirteen different natural areas, called ecosystems, grew there. These included oak forests, freshwater ravines, sandy hills, and even salt marshes.

In March 2004, a group of people who loved nature saw how special this land was. They started the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens (JAG) as a non-profit group. They asked experts in science, nature, and design to join their board of directors.

In 2006, the Jacksonville City Council agreed to help the arboretum. They approved a plan that gave JAG a 20-year lease on the land. They also provided $250,000. This money helped to pave the parking lot, create a plan for the park, and build walking trails. Volunteers worked hard to clean up the dumped trash and shape the landscape.

When the parking lot was being built, a group of gopher tortoises needed a new home. These tortoises are a protected species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a safe spot on the north side of the property for them. Now, builders who need to move gopher tortoises from their construction sites can bring them to JAG. This helps protect the tortoises and supports the arboretum.

Exploring the Arboretum's Natural Features

The land at the Jacksonville Arboretum is not flat like much of Jacksonville. It has rolling hills and a long ravine. This ravine is about 800 feet long with a stream at the bottom. Many animals call JAG home. You might see alligators, snakes, lizards, foxes, squirrels, turtles, and armadillos. Birds like hawks, osprey, and owls also live here, along with many smaller birds.

Lake Loop Trail

The Lake Loop trail goes around a two-acre lake. This lake was once a pit dug in the 1970s. The Lake Loop trail has been made easier to walk on. It now has a gentle slope that is easy to access. Many interesting plants have been planted around the lake. You can still see local trees like pignut hickory, tulip poplar, loblolly pine, longleaf pine, southern magnolia, black cherry, laurel oak, and live oak. These tall trees form the forest canopy.

Jones Creek Trail

The Jones Creek Trail winds through different types of trees. You will see swamp bay, tupelo, swamp dogwood, American hornbeam, and bald cypress. These trees grow along and across Jones Creek, which flows into the St. Johns River. You can also find many ferns here, like royal fern, cinnamon fern, and net leaf chain fern.

Ravine Trail

The Ravine Trail follows the edge of a large ravine. This ravine is 185 feet wide and 25 feet deep, with a stream at the bottom. Near this trail, you can find plants like swamp azalea and black walnut. You might also spot the national champion loblolly-bay tree here.

Live Oak Trail

The Live Oak Trail was finished in the spring of 2009. Many of the live oak trees along this trail are very old. Some are even over a hundred years old!

You will find helpful signs throughout the arboretum. These signs tell you the names of trees and share facts about different habitats. Some signs even have special codes you can scan with your Smartphone to learn more. A newspaper writer, Ron Littlepage, once called it "one of our area's great parks."

Community Projects and Support

The second Saturday of every month is a special volunteer work day at the arboretum. But many groups also help at other times. Church groups have built two bridges. Eagle Scouts have constructed bridges, fences, trails, and benches.

Larger projects get money from many different places. For example, a grant from JEA helped pay for an accessible restroom and a pavilion by the lake. The city tree fund helped buy over 400 trees and shrubs for around the lake. Recreational Equipment Inc (REI) helped pay to fix a part of the Jones Creek Trail and add accessible seating by the creek. The first educational signs were given by Greenscapes of Jacksonville. Local garden clubs have also given educational signs, benches, and the patio for the pavilion. Money from members and friends, plus earnings from events, helped pay for storage sheds, two boardwalks, and making the Lake Loop trail easier to walk.

Future Plans for the Arboretum

The park has a "wish list" for the next ten years and beyond. This plan includes building a visitor center, a greenhouse, a big lawn for events, and special gardens focused on plants used by people.

Community Support After a Challenge

In late September 2010, the arboretum faced a challenge. Some of their gas-powered tools were taken from a storage container. This included things like a backpack blower, a chainsaw, and an All-terrain vehicle. The total value of the lost items was about $10,000. Luckily, many kind people in the community helped out. They donated money and new equipment, so the arboretum could continue its important work.

Awards and Recognition

The Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens has received special honors for its work.

• On April 3, 2009, it won the Civic Horticultural Leadership Award from Greenscape of Jacksonville. This award was given at Mayor John Peyton's Environmental Luncheon.
• JAG also received the 2010 HandsOn Earth Award from HandsOn Jacksonville.