RAP Home Tour makes a comeback, Garden Tour on the horizon
The annual neighborhood Home Tour, brought to the neighborhoods by Riverside Avondale Preservation or RAP, was in full swing as it returned to action after a brief hiatus, to celebrate its 46th installment. Spring delivers beautiful gardens, blooming plants, manicured landscapes, and happy residents; due to the mild temps, coupled with sunshine and blue skies. […]
RAP hosts annual meeting, presents awards to community stewards
The local neighborhood preservation and advocacy group, Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP), welcomed guests and award winners to Riverside Church at Park and King, formerly known as the Riverside Baptist Church, Feb. 17, for its annual meeting. The historic structure and courtyards set the perfect backdrop the evening festivities, where a collective of passionate locals rallied […]
For the Love of a Neighborhood: Wayne Wood
You may not know it, but if you’ve ever wandered through Riverside on a Saturday morning, you’ve no doubt appreciated the work of Dr. Wayne Wood. Wood, nicknamed the “Mayor of Riverside,” is one of the leading founders of Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP), an organization responsible for the salvation of many of the area’s beloved […]
Scouts to the rescue, Troop 2 helps save Luminaria
Boy Scouts Troop 2 of St. Johns Presbyterian Church saved the 2021 Luminaria event by helping to bag thousands of bags of sand. The annual Luminaria hosted by Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) had originally been scheduled for December 19 but had to be moved up a week to avoid conflicting with a Jaguars home game. […]
Riverside resident continues family legacy of military service
Riverside resident Kevin Kuzel comes from a long line of family serving in the military. Everyone in his family from his generation back to his grandparents on his mother’s side served, including his uncles who served during World War II on both his parents’ sides. “My grandmother actually signed up with my mother to serve,” […]
‘No permission needed’ to cleanup anytime at parks
Riverside Avondale Preservation’s park and coastal cleanup the morning of September 18 removed 61 garbage bags of litter and other refuse, though the 5 Points volunteers and RAP director Shannon Blankenship, site captain, accounted for roughly half the haul. They collected 31 garbage bags, but there was more interesting refuse not appropriate for a trash […]
Defoor hosts virtual town hall on crime, drainage woes
Community policing and shared intelligence keys to mitigating criminal activity Jacksonville City Councilwoman Randy Defoor hosted a virtual town hall meeting with a few dozen constituents on September 9 to discuss two timely neighborhood concerns, recent crime trends and flooding during storm season. “We have a lot of heavy issues to discuss this time,” said […]
RAP celebrates neighborhood’s best with annual awards
Two homes, an animal hospital, a new coffee shop, and park flower beds were among the honorees during the Riverside Avondale Preservation awards that were presented virtually during the nonprofit’s annual meeting Feb. 18. More than 70 residents tuned in on Zoom to attend RAP’s first virtual annual meeting Feb. 18. Speaking at the event […]
