8 Flags Playscapes moves to enhance Egans Creek Park

8 Flags Press Release
Submitted by Sharyl Wood

contact [email protected]
March 21, 2015 4:00 p.m.

Egans Creek Site Plan8 Flags Playscapes has set into motion the redevelopment and enhancement of one of Fernandina Beach’s most underutilized park assets, Egans Creek Park. Following the overwhelming success of work in the development of Pirate Playground, this private/public partnership between 8 Flags Playscapes and the City of Fernandina Beach will set a new precedent for the development of recreational facilities in the Fernandina Beach community.

Egans Creek StructuresA quarter-mile fitness trail with twelve exercise stations, a yoga garden, a fishing and birdwatching dock, and a kayak launch into Egans Creek will provide a wide array of activities to engage people of all interests, while maintaining high standards for universal accessibility. Additionally, new restroom facilities, gazebos, and pavilion structures will provide the amenities necessary for the park to be functional as well as beautiful. Please check in regularly to the 8 Flags Playscapes website (www.8flagsplayscapes.org) or Facebook page, as more details will be released in the near future.

Editor’s note:  Additional information below is provided from a presentation by Trey Warren and Benjamin Morrison made at the March 17, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission.

Playscapes 1

Playscapes 2

Playscapes 3

4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Winifred Stephenson
Winifred Stephenson (@guest_31028)
9 years ago

I’m truly dismayed by this proposal. Just a few of many reaasons why: 1) Egan’s Creek Park is meant to be a wild space, not an over-groomed playground. 2) Egan’s Creek Park is more than wild space: it’s part of a buffer to contain stormwater in case of hurricanes and high water from northeasters. Let the tree roots and plants keep doing their job, please. 3) There are other places better situated for these projects. I’m all for exercise trails, although they are very lightly used here, \especially in summer. In particular, there’s already a footprint exercise trail by the high school (and, for that matter, there used to be one by Bailey Field – overgrown due to lack of use). If the city uses these funds at the high school, we would benefit students as well as citizens. 4) There are indeed restrooms at the park, conveniently located at the Recreation Center by the delightful new playground (which I have never seen crowded, just steadily used). They are large enough for handicap accessibility, although they need doors that open more easily.

Ft Clinch to the north, Talbots to the south, and Egans Creek Greenway are Amelia Island’s lasting legacies to “real Florida.” Please, let’s cherish them, as intact as possible, for future generations.

Dave Lott
Dave Lott(@dave-l)
9 years ago

What a terrific undertaking by 8 Flags Playscapes and the City. The kayak ramp and fishing platform will be a unique addition to the City’s leisure time activities, just need to ensure sufficient passageway and clearance for the kayakers to get their 14′ long kayaks to their launch platform without knocking any of the fishing folks into the creek.

Mac Morriss
Mac Morriss(@macmorrisshotmail-com)
9 years ago

In agreement Winifred, that the Egans Creek Greenway should remain as it is. The Egans Creek Park that is being redeveloped is already an open grassy area, which Is separate from the Greenway. Lanscaping will actually be added to it. (I use that footprint trail that you mentioned and it is not safe for people of all ages or abilities.) The Greenway is not part of Egans Creek Park. Your points are valid and good ones. We need more people like you standing up for our remaining wild spaces.

Winifred Stephenson
Winifred Stephenson (@guest_31108)
9 years ago
Reply to  Mac Morriss

Aha! Thank you, Mac Morriss. I had the new park placed with the new playground by the rec center. I stand corrected, rest room facilities would be a definite plus at the little playground by Atlantic, as would a platform, kayak put in, etc. Still think the exercise trail should be refreshed at the high school – less likely to flood, and, as I said, the students could use it, too. Hello to Dave, too!