New legislation has been filed that will ultimately bring about a redesign of Riverside’s Peace Memorial Park, including the highly anticipated labyrinth planned for the open stretch of green space adjacent to the Riverside community garden.
Filed jointly by City Councilmembers Jimmy Peluso and Matt Carlucci, the legislation establishes a partnership between the City of Jacksonville Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Riverside Avondale Preservation and the family of J. Wayne Weaver and Ronald Morris Weaver family for the park’s renovation and redesign.
Elevated Designs
The Friends of the Labyrinth (FOL) began as a grassroots effort led by Ruth Thompson, Hazel Clery, Ann Burt and Brittany Webber in 2021, eventually partnering with RAP on the project.
Updated conceptual renderings of Peace Memorial Park, including updated plans for the Labyrinth, were shared at a community meeting hosted by RAP at the end of March. While these are early designs that will be tweaked and updated before a final design is released, new plans are expected to include a tribute to Ouida Crawford Weaver Bonnoyer and Harry Bruno Bonnoyer, parents of J. Wayne and Ronald Morris Weaver.
“Through this effort, all parties have strived to create something beautiful and respectful of the history of Peace Memorial Park, ensuring that no single element overshadows another, and that respect is paid to all involved,” said Carlucci. “When Wayne called me and shared his heartfelt wish to honor his mother and father, my heart was warmed to tears.”
Clery said the FOL committee is thrilled to see plans take shape for the park.
“We’re so pleased that there is going to be a complete transformation of this park to make it into a beautiful, peaceful place for the community,” Clery said.
Peluso echoed her sentiments, adding, “The fact that it’s community-led makes it even more important.”
Fundraising Efforts Met and Surpassed
FOL initially began planning and fundraising for an 11-circuit stone labyrinth with an original fundraising goal of nearly $300,000. Through grassroots fundraising efforts and generous donations, including $735,000 pledged from the Weavers and an additional $130,000 raised by FOL, with the help of a $25,000 matching challenge from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds, the plans for the new park and its labyrinth will be far more elaborate than originally planned.
“For one, it’s really going to take advantage of that real estate,” said Peluso on what this new legislation and these new plans mean for the Labyrinth at Peace Memorial Park. “It’s going to take a ton of advantage of that beautiful park space, [and] you know, we’re going to see something, I think, pretty special overall.”
Macquarie Group and its Foundation have also become involved in the fundraising efforts for the labyrinth, after regional manager Daniel Marshall learned of FOL and their movement by chance at the Riverside Arts Market four years ago. Marshall said Macquarie’s initial fundraising goal was $25,000, but with employees and Macquarie Group Foundation rallying behind this community project, the total amount raised was $40,000.
“From where it started to what it’s become, it’s really been one of the proudest moments of my career. I’m honored to have been part of the fundraising for this,” Marshall said.
In a statement, Pritha Mittal, regional director, Americas, for Macquarie Group Foundation, said this grassroots initiative reflects the foundation’s commitment to supporting its community here in Jacksonville. The statement read, in part:
“We believe in the power of collective effort to create meaningful change, and our people’s dedication to this initiative demonstrates the tremendous impact we can have in the communities in which our people live and work. It’s heartening to see our team come together, not just to raise funds, but to actively contribute their time and energy to revitalize Peace Park.”
Clery said construction on this project is expected to begin later this year.
