Funding for Baymeadows Regional Park in limbo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Funding for Baymeadows Regional Park that was never finished is not in the proposed budget for next year. 

"It's not well maintained," said Taulant Marra. He said that's just one reason his soccer league stopped coming to the park off Baymeadows Road. "I've been coming here for years. We used to have league games here."  

Action News also uncovered the park was never finished and there's even $1 million ready to do it. City leaders are just waiting for the money to match that so they can finish it.

"It's sitting there," said councilman Bill Gulliford.

He said the reason for the unfinished park is purely money. "The need hit when we were right at the economic downturn," said Gulliford.

It was put in the budget last year, but cut by the council. We found out it's not even in the proposed budget for next year. But there is $4 million proposed in the budget in two years. Gulliford said he's not even sure this space will fill the growing needs.

"We have no more space. We need a solution for more fields," said Gulliford.

One proposal is to build a new park, seven miles away on land the city already owns. That proposal is in the proposed budget and could cost $1.6 million.

Marra said the existing park should be the priority.  

"A lot of people are moving in so they should really try to do a good job of expanding the park," said Marra.

City council will have to approve these projects in the budget.

WJAX