‘It keeps us here:’ Eastside Jacksonville community receives $400k playground renovations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s historic Eastside has an exciting new addition coming to the community, with the grand re-opening of a newly renovated playground at Flossie Brunson Eastside Park.

According to Lift Jax, one of the organizations responsible for these renovations, the total cost was around $400,000, but it was a much-needed “refresh” for the community.

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“This playground absolutely is one of those things that we felt like we could really do something to improve it, and we’re just really gratified to see this,” said Lift Jax president David Garfunkel at the playground’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday night. “And I think you see in the kids playing here today, it shows you that the community likes it too.”

And for some members of the Eastside community, it serves as a long overdue, but welcome addition.

“The Eastside of Jacksonville kind of has that, you know, it’s one of the poorest neighborhoods in Jacksonville,” said Eastside resident Fidela Fields at the grand re-opening. “So, to have such a nice investment here in the community, it kind of keeps us here to where we don’t have to go out, which I can appreciate.”

Fields also says she’s been bringing her children to Flossie Brunson for over seven years, and can now keep doing so with even better amenities.

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