Celebrating Earth Day, local filmmaker Dana Maule partnered with the Northeast Florida Sierra Club for an urban hike in the neighborhood of Durkeeville. The hike was inspired by her upcoming documentary film, Moncrief Springs. The route included destinations featured in the documentary along the Moncrief-Myrtle corridor, highlighting the history and culture of Jacksonville’s Northside.
The hiking tour started at Northsides Mt. Ararat Baptist Church on Myrtle Avenue at 12:30 pm. covering two miles and part of the Emerald Trail’s S-Line. The church holds fascinating stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and his time in Jacksonville during the civil rights era. Some other interesting sights along the way include murals by local artists and the old Ducote Credit Union building – the first credit union owned by African-American in Jacksonville. Hikers continued on to the J.P. Smalls Baseball Stadium where MLB hall of Famer, Hank Aaron broke the color barrier by integrating the Jacksonville Braves baseball team. The route ended at Emmet Reed Park where pro-tennis champion, MaliVai Washington has invested in tennis courts and youth programming for the community.
Jaguars Legend Kyle Brady and Councilman Jimmy Peluso made special appearances and vowed to raise awareness about environmental justice and social justice in Durkeeville. Through the lens of the filmmaker, hikers learned about Jacksonville’s Black History and how they can contribute to the preservation of the historic community. (T. Goodman Photo)
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