JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Changes are coming to Jacksonville’s Park Safety Council after an Action News Jax investigation.
The Park Safety Council was created through executive order by former Mayor Lenny Curry after a toddler’s death at an Arlington park almost 10 years ago.
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In May, Action News Jax Anchor Tenikka Hughes revealed how the six-member volunteer group has been plagued by attendance issues for years, preventing it from doing the work it was created to do, reviewing park inspections and putting out reports so that your family can know about safety at local parks.
According to the original executive order, the six-member group needed a quorum of four people to vote and approve any business.
Park Safety Chair Bruce Tyson said they rarely had enough people show up and as a result they could not fulfill their duties, only putting out one report for the public since the group started meeting in 2021.
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Tyson said over the years, he has repeatedly asked whether the executive order could be amended to lower the quorum threshold to three instead of four, and whether the application process for bringing on new volunteers could be improved. At the time Tyson said, “I’ve made that request to several different people and entities, and so far, I’ve seen no action on it.”
Action News Jax took Tyson’s concerns to the city and was told by a city spokesperson that Mayor Donna Deegan would consider lowering the quorum requirement from four to three.
The city later told Action News Jax they were instead working to fill any vacant positions on the board, to alleviate the quorum issue.
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After another Park Safety Council meeting without a proper quorum, Action News Jax circled back to the city and was told the mayor would move forward to amend executive order and lower the quorum requirement.
Action News Jax has stayed on top of this story and learned that Deegan signed an executive order to lower the Park Safety Council’s quorum from four to three. The change went into effect on October 13, 2026. You can view the amended order here:
Tyson responded to the amended executive order saying, “I am pleased with the amendment and the Council looks forward to fulfilling our responsibilities in accordance to the EO.”
The Park Safety Council’s next meeting is in November. Action News Jax will keep you updated on what happens.
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