DIA: There’s much more to One Park Jax design, but art sculpture remains center of attention

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Downtown Investment Authority held a meeting on Thursday and provided an update to the One Park Jax design. While the sculpture has been the center of attention, they say there’s much more to the proposal.

However, head of the DIA, Lori Boyer, said it seems clear among the board they want an iconic, memorable piece of art in the Landing area, saying it would be unique and bold for Jacksonville.

“Make sure we are getting public space right and the uses in it right and programming in it right,” Boyer said. “So, what we have on the ground is much more important for how everyone will use that space than some art piece that we eventually put on top of a platform.”

The park has to come first and right now, the board hasn’t given out a contract that’s finalized. Boyer said even before Perkins & Will was chosen as the winner, she received “100s” of emails running 5-1 for people in favor of the sculpture and even a large number of emails regarding private funding opportunities; the art piece alone is estimated between $11-18 million.

The board showed three different interpretations for the sculpture, the artist told Action News Jax on Tuesday it symbolizes the St. Johns River.

“There is a desire to have something that we consider iconic, symbolic that would be recognizable for Jacksonville,” Boyer said. “Not something you’d see somewhere else.”

Among many things, One Park Jax includes designated play spaces, hotels and restaurants. The board believes there is plenty of opportunity for positive economic growth.

“We will be working with that team to come to an agreement on the contract of design of the park space and that will move forward over the course of the next nine months,” Boyer said. “There will be opportunity for input on the park and if an art piece is a considered part of the park space, as we move through that process. There will be opportunity for input and comment and things like that.”

Several other board members believed a bold, iconic sculpture would make Jacksonville stand out, jokingly saying they’re not art critics and are excited for the potential future of the Landing site.

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