The St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency on a motion approved changes to the Robert B. Hailing Freedom Park master plan, removing a proposed Marsh Overlook, reinstating a previously proposed pathway realignment, and eliminating several picnic-table access “fingers” that would have extended into marsh-edge habitat.

The vote followed extended public comment from neighborhood residents and the St. Johns Regional Audubon, technical explanations from staff and the project designer, and discussion among commissioners about bird habitat, site constraints and park amenities. The motion was approved by roll call: Barbara Blonder, Jim Springfield, John DePrater, Cynthia Garris and Nancy Sykes Klein voted yes (5–0).

The change matters because the park sits on the Lincolnville peninsula adjacent to sensitive marsh habitat and on top of a capped landfill. Residents and environmental advocates advocated preserving quiet, passive areas and potential wintering habitat for sparrows; other residents and commissioners said the master plan advances long-delayed improvements and historic recognition for Lincolnville.

Staff proposed the revision after recent input from the St. Johns Regional Audubon and other stakeholders. JB D. Perkins, neighborhood services and CRA manager, told the agency that the updates in the packet reflected recent feedback and outlined two contested elements: the northern/eastern pathway realignment and the Marsh Overlook. Perkins said staff’s recent communications with Audubon prompted the reconsideration and asked the board for direction. "My staff proposal is asking that we remove that pathway realignment from the master plan as well as the Marsh Overlook," Perkins said during the presentation.

Audubon representative Amy Koch described recent bird observations and urged care for wintering sparrows. Koch said volunteers and eBird records showed concentrations of three sparrow species around the peninsula and noted that the salt marsh sparrow had been observed in the area. "We have also, documented that in the red circle, there were 9 of them found in Jan.," Koch said, noting the group’s willingness to help further document habitat.

Design team member Jeremy Marcus told the board the pathway could be reconfigured to preserve habitat while maintaining public access to Hailing Plaza. "You can actually still have the arcing path... you can still make it where you can come down the existing pathway, turn right and head up into Hailing Plaza," Marcus said, explaining that the earlier realignment had been proposed to move users away from the water‑treatment plant view and to increase marshside habitat.

Commissioners debated tradeoffs. Commissioner Jim Springfield said he had researched the salt marsh sparrow and noted its nesting on marsh reeds, and urged preserving space for marsh migration as sea levels rise: "They actually nest in the marsh on the reeds... we need to leave as much space in that particular area so that 50 years from now there's still a reed available for that bird," he said. Commissioner John DePrater and others noted the site is a capped landfill and that large trees may be constrained by the cap.

During discussion the board added a modification to the motion removing picnic‑table access paths in the area labeled B on the plan (the “fingers” down into the marsh/meditation zone). Commissioners also confirmed that a proposed restroom would remain in the plan but likely be relocated closer to the ADA parking and access area in later design phases.

The formal motion approved directed staff to proceed with the modified schematic — removal of the Marsh Overlook, reinstatement of the previously approved path realignment, and removal of the picnic‑table finger paths — and included requests that staff:
- continue to work with St. Johns Regional Audubon to document bird observations in the circled area on the plan; and
- prepare a written construction plan and timing strategy to minimize disturbance to nesting or wintering birds (for example avoiding in‑season work), and to use the permeable paving and native plant materials in later design and construction stages.

Commissioners and commenters reiterated that the park project grew from years of community engagement and that the statue honoring Dr. Robert B. Hailing remains a separate priority that the board intends to proceed with.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the board’s modifications into the schematic design, coordinate with Audubon on additional documentation and timing recommendations, and return refined construction plans and planting/ materials details for later review and permitting. The board did not set a construction start date at the meeting.

Background: The Hailing Freedom Park site — long discussed in Lincolnville planning efforts — sits on a capped former landfill and was dedicated as a passive park after soil mitigation. The master plan includes walking and biking pathways, a kayak launch, a plaza and restroom facilities; specific construction materials and final planting details will be determined during the design/permit phase.