The Inaugural 7 Creeks Fest Draws A Crowd To Celebrate And Explore

Jacksonville FL

08 April, 2022

6:29 PM

Description

Press release from the JAX Chamber: April 8, 2022 Jacksonville, Fla., April 8, 2022 – The inaugural 7 Creeks Fest, an event designed to celebrate and explore the 7 Creeks Recreation Area, took place on Saturday, April 2, and was a great success. A crowd of approximately 1,000 people came to the parks to enjoy the event organized by 7 Creeks Recreation Area partners including the Timucuan Parks Foundation, the City of Jacksonville, Talbot Island State Parks (Florida State Parks), Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (National Park Service), Visit Jacksonville, and North Florida Land Trust. The event was created to introduce the public to the parks by highlighting the recreational opportunities, raising awareness of the preserved natural and cultural spaces, and increasing support for the efforts to enhance and protect the area. "We were very excited to see the great crowds who came out to visit the 7 Creeks Recreation Area and we consider this first year a big success," said Felicia Boyd, program and outreach director for TPF. "We couldn't have done it without the many volunteers who helped and the organizations and groups who came as exhibitors or led the many hikes and activities that we had scheduled throughout the day. We thank them for their efforts. We are also proud of the collaborative efforts of our park partners who worked together for months to organize this amazing event." The City of Jacksonville's Betz-Tiger Point Preserve served as the Welcome Hub for the event where visitors picked up their map and activity schedule, checked out the numerous environmental exhibitors, and enjoyed the music of NGomathunder and We Are The Gospel Trio, Ray & Early, and Lonesome Town. Visitors then spread out among all the parks to choose their own adventure from the many free recreational opportunities available, including kayaking and canoe tours led by Kayak Amelia and volunteers, a multi-cultural history demonstration focusing on the lifeways and fishing traditions of African American peoples presented by the Jacksonville Gullah Geechee Nation CDC, archaeology talks presented by Dr. Keith Ashley of the UNF Archaeology Lab, arts and crafts, dip-netting, prescribed fire demonstrations, yoga, and bike tours. There were also themed, guided hikes led by the host agencies and preservation park partners including: As part of the 7 Creeks Fest, the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Timucuan Parks Foundation held a fishing clinic for more than 100 children and their families at Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, a program funded by a Junior Ranger Angler grant from the National Park Foundation. More than half of the participants were military families, and the grant additionally provided bus transportation for two groups of urban youth to participate in this outreach. "We attended the 7 Creeks Fest and thoroughly enjoyed it! We, unfortunately, didn't have the time to do many activities, but we were very impressed with what was on the schedule and the great range of exhibitors," according to local resident Susan Scanlon. "We were approached by a 'greeter' right away who handed us a map and explained all that was going on - he was so friendly and welcoming and informative. We could tell that the Fest was well-organized and that a lot of planning had gone into it. Next time, and there has to be a next time!, we will plan to spend the whole day. Thank you for all the hard work to showcase Jacksonville's gem!" Organizers give a special thank you to staff, volunteers, and vendors for helping make the inaugural 7 Creeks Fest a success and look forward to hosting the Fest again next year. Organizations interested in learning about sponsoring 7 Creeks Fest 2023 can send inquiries to [email protected]. The 7 Creeks Recreation Area is 5,600 acres of contiguous parklands in northeast Jacksonville that are linked by trails and waterways. The collection of seven parks features more than 30 miles of trails on thousands of connected acres of public lands perfect for biking, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing and more, offering many opportunities for improving physical and mental health. The outdoors destination was made possible by the partnership of park agencies and nonprofits working together to expand access and recreational opportunities for park visitors: the City of Jacksonville's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (JaxParks), Florida Park Service (FPS), National Park Service (NPS), North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), Timucuan Parks Foundation (TPF) and Visit Jacksonville. More information can be found at https://www.timucuanparks.org/7-creeks-jax/. About Timucuan Parks Foundation Timucuan Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization that preserves, promotes and enhances Jacksonville's natural areas through community engagement, education and enjoyment. The foundation originated in 1999 with the Preservation Project Jacksonville, Inc. to identify and assist in acquiring the most vulnerable and environmentally sensitive lands in Duval County. The acquisition of lands created the largest urban park system in the United States. TPF works with its park partners, including the National Park Service, Florida State Parks and the City of Jacksonville, and other community partners to promote environmental stewardship, the health benefits of the parks and preserves, and an appreciation for Jacksonville's special outdoor spaces. For more information, visit timucuanparks.org or follow @timucuanparks. Contact Kelly White [email protected] (904) 616-8754 This press release was produced by the JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author's own.