THE VILLAGER
THE MAYPORT WATERFRONT PARTNERSHIP
Executive Committee Election 1-8-25
You’ll find great opportunities for amplifying your holiday giving this season when you shop on our website, www.mayportwaterfrontpartnership.com, for fine art gifts and apparel.
You may choose from a wide array of fine art watercolor scenes of Mayport Village beautifully created by Chris Flagg, a widely collected artist in our region. You may also acquire long and short sleeve t-shirts that promote awareness of Mayport’s place among our beach cities and get decals with the MWP logo.
Want to go a step further? You may make a taxdeductible donation in honor or memory of a loved one through our Donation page. Please let us know if you work for a company that matches donations. Thank you for considering us when you’re making thoughtful purchases for your loved ones.
Mayport Waterfront Partnership will hold an election to fill three vacancies on its executive committee. During the Annual Meeting on January 8, 2025, at 7 p.m., nominations will be taken from the floor for the positions of Chair, Vice-chair, and Secretary. These positions will be decided by a simple majority vote.
Directors interested in serving as officers may contact the current executives to gain a better sense of the scope of the work involved. Each executive position serves for a one year term until the next Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors in January.
RECENT NEWS
D O C K D E S I G N U P D A T E
In a recent Zoom meeting with the City of Jacksonville’s Public Works department, Taylor Engineering, and representatives from The Haskell Company, who are serving as consultants for the MWP, the Mayport Waterfront Partnership’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept the initial dock plan provided by Taylor Engineering for the commercial and recreational docks at Mayport. The project now moves forward to the permitting phase.
THE NEXT 3 GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Partnership’s grant writer, Janis Fleet, AICP, has submitted three more grant applications on behalf of MWP. All three are separate Coastal Initiative grants provided by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The first is for new Signs with the History and Information about the Village of Mayport to be located at the St. Johns River Ferry Landing. This grant is submitted in conjunction with the Friends of the St. Johns River Ferry. The second is for Shoreline Design– An Extension of the UGA Grant area for Shoreline Stabilization. The third grant is for Preliminary Planning Design of the Mayport Park to be located along the riverfront on the 6.9 acres owned by the City of Jacksonville and was submitted by MWP in conjunction with City of Jacksonville’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services.
I N V E S T Y O U R T I M E & T A L E N T
Do you have expertise or experience you want to invest in the authentic and respectful revitalization of historic Mayport Village and its Working Waterfront?
The Board of Directors for Mayport Waterfront Partnership welcomes the submission of a resume from anyone who wishes to make a gift of his or her time and talent.
Send your interest in an email to mayportwaterfrontpartnership@gmail.com.
Mayport Waterfront Partnership Directors for organizations whose missions complem hts of their victories:
In September the Mayport Lighthouse Association, a local 501(c)(3), held a “Listening Session” in Mayport Village to save and restore the historic St. Johns River Lighthouse, and make it accessible to the public once again.
Due to its proximity to the naval airfield and associated sensitive resources, making the lighthouse accessible to the public would be impossible in its present location, and even getting access for restoration work would be very difficult The MLA concludes that the best way to save the lighthouse is to move it to the waterfront in Mayport Village Mark McManus, Community Planning & Liaison Officer for Naval Station Mayport confirmed that Naval Station Mayport is supportive of the lighthouse being moved
The MLA will apply for a grant from the Florida Lighthouse Association for a feasibility study to determine if the lighthouse can be safely moved from its present location on Naval Station Mayport The United States Lighthouse Society has offered to partner with the MLA to help gain ownership of the lighthouse Dan Hogan, president of the Mayport Lighthouse Association, currently serves on the Mayport Waterfront Partnership’s Board of Directors, in one of MWP’s five organizational seats These strategic partnerships with highly compatible nonprofit organizations are mutually beneficial to an extraordinary degree The MWP considers itself fortunate to be in league with the MLA.
The St Johns River Lighthouse, a red brick structure and the 3rd lighthouse built in the vicinity, was first lit on January 1, 1859, and served until 1929 when replaced by the St. Johns Lightship anchored several miles offshore. When the base was developed in the 1940’s it was scheduled to be torn down until opposition from villagers saved it. The fill dirt from the dredging of the Ribault Basin has buried it in 10’ of fill. Named to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1984, the St Johns River Lighthouse stands as a beacon to the past. The MLA also works to preserve the 2nd remaining land-based structure, the St. Johns Lighthouse, erected in 1954, which is also on Naval Station Mayport, as well as the St. Johns Lightship.
To join, volunteer, or donate to help preserve “the two lights, one legacy”, please visit www.mayportlighthouseassociation.org or send email to info@mayportlighthouseassociation.org.
SAVE THE DATE: St Johns River Lighthouse 166th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, January 11, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 p m at the William “Bill” Gulliford, Jr Community Center
St Johns River Lighthouse at night
St Johns River Lighthouse staircase
Mayport Lighthouse Association
