ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — After almost two years of trying to bring back its family roots, the Mickler family officially unveiled its new pier, after some safety concerns in the area and a much-needed upgrade.
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“It would’ve taken a lot longer had the community not stepped in and helped us,” David Plummer said, looking at the brand-new Mickler Wharf Palm Valley Landing project he built from scratch.
Plummer said it was a true team effort between his well-known family, the Micklers, PV Greenway Alliance, and the people of Palm Valley.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought in dozens of people from out of state.
And it's official!
The matriarch of the Mickler family, along with her son and youngest grandson did the honors @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/CgYYfVX55C
“This brought everybody in our family together,” Brenda Mickler Cogwill said. “They came from out of town and came in from Madison.” She was beaming talking about how proud she was of her nephew, Plummer.
Decades ago, the dock area was destroyed, and Plummer says it was an unsafe area to fish and hang out.
“I see kids down here fishing,” Plummer said. “All in the bulkhead here was all that existed, and down below was razor sharp oyster shells and steel girders.”
"We can't undo the developments. You can't un-pave the roads, but one thing the old Palm Valley people and the new Palm Valley have in common is that everybody loves the water" @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/eaoHRmcaGl
The project cost $170,000. It was funded by private grants, community donations and the Mickler family.
But the plan is not to stop there. PV Greenway is looking to continue changing Canal Boulevard.
“We want to make it walkable and bikeable,” Deb Chapin with PV Greenway Alliance said. “And bring back that story that is so unique to Palm Valley.”
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Cox Media Group
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