JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville unveiled a ‘Safer Parks’ initiative on Tuesday, which includes Wi-Fi and cameras.
The announcement took place at the Clanzel T. Brown Park basketball courts at 11 a.m.
Mayor Donna Deegan said the cameras are connected to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Real-Time Crime Center and the city’s parks department.
She said there are parks with cameras already installed and more with installations in progress. Wi-Fi will be provided at these parks as well.
“Wi-Fi in our parks is not just about technology, it’s about giving parents peace of mind and ensuring that our first responders have stronger tools to keep people safe. This is about safety above all else,” Deegan said.
The mayor said the Wi-Fi will give students the tools they need to learn, help people looking for jobs and keep residents connected to their community.
The parks with cameras are:
- Adolph Wurn
- Baker Skinner
- Clanzel T. Brown
- Drew Park
- Eartha H. Napoleon
- Fort Family Regional
- Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
- Lonnie C. Miller Sr.
- Memorial Park
- Patton Park
Parks with installation in progress are:
- Blue Cypress
- Walter Jones
- Oceanway Community Center
- Taye Brown Regional Park
Community leaders said this isn’t just about policing. The concept is something community activist Diallo Sekou said he’s been pushing for the past two years.
“What this does is, eliminate the digital redlining and turns a public space into economic and education and it always connects the people,” Sekou said.
He also said that in the first six months, children are expected to have higher rates of completed homework because of the Wi-Fi access.
The city said the total cost of the project is roughly $800,000. The Wi-Fi itself was installed at no cost, as all the equipment for it was donated.
The mayor’s full press conference can be watched below.