by Saundra Morene 2004

The 2016 CAMP GULLAH GEECHEE project was a cycling CAMP on the north side in Jacksonville Florida established especially for youth ages. 7-17.  It is also open for PUBLIC use upon request.  Jacksonville Gullah Geechee Nation CDC is reaching out to local communities, schools, clubs and organizations inviting interested youth and their families to participate in TRAIL rides.  The camp also promotes art, hiking, walking, exercising, bicycle safety, conservation and ecological education to our participants.

We are to training our youth triathlon team for rides in October of 2016 to culminate the camp.  This project has been implemented to bring awareness to local trails in an effort to promote the great outdoors creating healthier lifestyle choices in the URBAN core    and the cycling component project of Jacksonville Gullah Geechee Nation CDC.

Through Business Partnerships from Cycle Clubs,Corporations, Trail Links, Bicycle Shops, Summer Camps and Private Citizen Sponsors we were able to acquire  the equipment needed to equip and prepare the trainees for the ride.

Thank you in advance for your donations and act of kindness agreeing to reach out to your constituents for sponsorship.  Our efforts will promote a sense of awareness to the breathtaking beauty of the GULLAH GEECHEE trails and great outdoors

The Urban Green Way S-Line Trail is constructed over a 4.8 mile railroad track in  Jacksonville, Florida’s Gullah Geechee Communities.

The Urban Green Way extends southwest from the Prime Osborne Center, formerly the Historic Union Terminal Train Station, in downtown Jacksonville, Florida northeast to The Gateway TOWN Center at 44th Street.  It is scheduled for continued construction to loop the city connecting additional trails to the URBAN core……(Remy Johnson and Chyna Nellon 2004)

The S-Line is in walking distance to Edward Waters College which is Florida’s oldest institution of higher education for African-Americans. It’s also Jacksonville’s oldest and most urban institution of higher education.  Located on Kings Road since 1908, it has over a thousand students. many of whom reside within walking distance of the S-Line.  Restoring the S-Line has provided an additional means of connectivity between these expanding Northside assets of higher learning to available walking and biking routes and downtown Jacksonville.

The City of Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida and the Durkeeville Historical Society are among the partners who have made the S-LINE a reality.  Funding was provided by the Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida and the Kresge Foundation according to articles in Jacksonville.com. The goal it is said, was to create a linear urban park in the shape of an S that could serve as a catalyst to improve the surrounding neighborhoods by connecting schools, parks and other community assets.  “If future local non-motorized transportation initiatives become reality, a commuter rail line connecting downtown to the airport will one day be added, offering many North-side communities true access to economic revitalization”, also stated in that article.

The rail to trail project has been a reality for over 10 years with little use.   Limited use, it is said by trail activists on trial blogs, has been due to a lack of patrolled crossings,  poor upkeep  and riders feeling unsafe on the trail.  As of today the S-LINE passes through neighborhoods of concern with no improvements in economic growth and revitalization as proposed by city government and funding sources.