Saturday, July 27, 2024
Another hot sunny day for Jacksonville as I pedaled to the southern terminus of the LaVilla Link of the Emerald Trail at the corner of Park Street and Stonewall Street, south of the Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
The Emerald Trail is a beautiful, emerald green painted bicycle and pedestrian trail that will eventually provide over 30 miles of trails around Jacksonville, connecting urban areas to each other and to downtown.
The 1.3-mile LaVilla Link is the first to be constructed. It opened on May 6, 2024. The other links are currently under construction or in the planning stages.
Riding the Link
From Stonewall Street, going north on Park Street over McCoys Creek, you come to the Convention Center area. Traffic lights at the intersections here feature bicycle icons instead of the solid red or green lights. Please obey the traffic lights. According to Florida State law, all bicyclists must follow traffic laws, including stopping at traffic lights, just like other vehicles.
Going a couple blocks further on Lee Street, between Houston and West Adams Street, is the Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park. It was built in honor of James Weldon Johnson and his brother John Rosamond Johnson. James wrote the lyrics and John set the lyrics to music. They wrote the song in 1900 and it was first performed at LaVilla’s Stanton Institute in Jacksonville on February 12, 1900 by 500 black students. Within 20 years it was being sung all over the South. It is also known as The Black National Anthem.
Below are the lyrics to this song:
1. Lift ev’ry voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list’ning skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us.
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.
2. Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod
Felt in the day that hope unborn had died.
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place on which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered.
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our star is cast.
3. God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way
Thou who hast by thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee;
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee;
Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.
Going on a couple more blocks to the corner of Lee and Duval Streets is the LaVilla Pond Park. It is an existing retention pond, but has been upgraded with a variety of plants planted along the shore to improve the scenery and attract wildlife. A seating area with two bench swings and a boardwalk have been built overlooking the pond. It’s a scenic place to take a break and relax.
Here the trail turns to the left going along Duval Street. It cuts across Johnson Street to Church Street to the Florida C. Dwight Memorial Playground. The trail goes through the playground up to Beaver Street and then zigzags to meet the S-Line Trail, the current northern terminus.
The trail is well marked with an emerald green centerline and signs along the trail. Small emerald green cement blocks with the Emerald Trail logo are placed at strategic points to keep you on the trail. Just follow the signs.
Resource Links for More Information:
More information on the LaVilla Link including a printable map: https://www.groundworkjacksonville.org/emerald-trail/emerald-trail-jacksonville/
More information on the Emerald Trail, including maps of the proposed trails. You can also view a pdf of the master plan: https://www.groundworkjacksonville.org/emerald-trail/
Emerald Trail – LaVilla Link Information:
Southern Terminus is at the corner of Stonewall Street and Park Street south of the Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
Northern Terminus is at the corner of State Street and Wilcox Street (near Myrtle Avenue and Kings Road) where it meets with the S-Trail.
Length: 1.3 miles long.
Difficulty Level: Easy/Beginner.
Condition: The trail is relatively flat and the trail is smooth and well-paved.
Parks on the Trail:
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park on Lee Street between Houston Street and West Adams Street.
LaVilla Pond Park on the corner of Lee Street and Duval Street.
Florida C. Dwight Memorial Playground on Eaverson Street north of West Church Street.
Waypoints and GPS Coordinates:
Southern Terminus: 30° 19.533N; 81° 40.346W
Northern Terminus at Intersection with S-Trail: 30° 20.345N; 81° 40.944W
LaVilla Pond Park: 30° 19.910N; 81° 40.153W
What To Do Next
If you have bicycled on the LaVilla Link of the Emerald Trail, feel free to share your experience in the comments below. Please include the date you were on the trail.
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