Calling for more examples of community character

By BEVERLY FLEMING

It is 15 degrees below 0 in Iowa, according to my brother Dan, and that certainly reminds me of one of the reasons I moved to Florida in the first place.

I spent my first week here in the Ambassador Hotel in Jacksonville and there was a clock with the time and temperature on it across the street. It was January 1970 and I seem to remember the temperature was in the 70's. Since I have lived in Florida, the coldest temperature was 7 degrees above 0 on Jan. 21, 1985. That is still an improvement over other winter temperatures in other places I have lived, including Missouri, Massachusetts, Wyoming, and one memorable winter in Chicago. Burrrr!

As we drove around the Northeast Florida area looking for a place to settle, I remember being struck by all the trees and other greenery during a time I usually associated with the gray and white of other winter locations. When we drove down into St. Johns county, I knew I would some day find a place to live in that beautiful area. First impressions are like that; you get a sense of coming home, a comfortable sense of a community that will welcome you. That is why it seems so important to me for our communities to retain that comfortable welcoming atmosphere.

Community character can be interpreted in many different ways. in the end of the year issue of My St. Johns Sun, I asked readers to identify sights in their community that made it stand out from other communities and take pictures to submit to the paper. Photo entries could be sights you love or places you think detract from the community.

However, I think many people were out of town or too busy during the holidays to really take notice because we didn't receive any entries. So, we are going to give it another try and I am going to submit two examples of what I think people notice when they drive down William Bartram Scenic Highway, through some of our Northwest St. Johns County communities.

Photos need not be of things right on the highway. First impressions are often what prompt people to stop and investigate certain communities, whether it is for shopping, going to a park, eating at a restaurant, or just driving around as we did back then. Your picks may be impressive views of business entrances. People judge communities by the signs along the way, by the upkeep of buildings, by the scenery, or by various other standards. How do you think your community stacks up?

In addition to photos, you might include things such as festivals, art shows, bird walks, historic buildings, walking trails, fishing tournaments, boat shows or whatever you think folks might like. Suggestions for future events could even be included.

We know that many move to our local communities because of the good schools. We also know traffic congestion is a big problem in many of our areas. These are examples of good and bad characteristics of our area. These things take a lot of time to develop. Other things may not take as long to develop or to change. Being involved in activities and events in the area give each of us a sense of belonging and an appreciation for the area in which we live.

Members of the William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway group recently viewed a DVD about community character and how it affects the economy. I would be glad to show it to other community associations, clubs, business groups, or anyone else who is interested in making their community stand out as a better place to live.

Beverly Fleming is a park naturalist for the St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Department. She can be reached by calling (904) 284-9488.