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His job is to help bring people of Palatka together
City of Palatka’s culture arts coordinator, Courtney James’ new office, has one of the best views in the city. James can sit at his desk in the southeast corner of the City’s St. Johns River Center and watch the sunrise over the city’s Riverfront Park and the St. Johns River.
But for Courtney, the view from his office is not the best part of his job.
“The best part of my job is getting to meet people from different walks of life and I love that I get to give back to the community when we put on events,” he said.
Courtney has a wide range of duties with the City.
As Cultural Arts Coordinator with the Community Affairs Department, Courtney is responsible for managing the rentals of the City’s buildings, including the Price Martin Center, the Bronson-Mulholland House, the Old City Waterworks, and the St. Johns River Center. The buildings are available for parties, weddings, and other events. Information on renting the buildings can be found at www.Palatka-fl.gov. He also coordinates volunteers for the City and helps plan special events.
Born in Alabama, Courtney moved to Palatka when he was in elementary school with his family so they could be closer to his mother’s family.
“This is home. Most of my family is here, it is just home. It’s a nice area. I love the town. I love the people here,” he said”
After graduating from Palatka Junior/Senior High School in 2004, where he was a star football player and wrestler, he attended William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on an athletic scholarship.
“It was so cold, I couldn’t take dealing with -5-degree weather, and I was a long way from home, so I ended up transferring to Bethune-Cookman University,” he said.
After college, Courtney worked as a program director at a juvenile detention center in St. Augustine before coming to work for the City 2 years ago.
A big part of his job recently is reopening the St. River Center on the City’s riverfront.
The center, which is a collaborative project between the City and Georgia-Pacific’s Palatka Operations, which had been closed since 2021 for renovations, is an educational center that tells the story of the unique ecosystem of the St. Johns River.
“Now that the center is reopened, I think we are going to see big crowds and people from out of town coming here and learning about what a special place this city is,” he said. “This is also a great place for field trips where students can learn about our area.”
Courtney is happy to work for the City because it gives him a way to showcase what the City has to offer to residents.
“ A City is a group of people who live side by side and may come from different cultures and backgrounds but have a lot in common. Having community events and community spaces helps bring the people of Palatka together,” he said. “I see this community growing. I have seen a dramatic change in the City in the two years that I have been here. I see people working together to make Palatka the best place that it can be. I am happy to be home and be a part of the City’s future.”
The St. Johns River Center, 102 N. First St. in Palatka, is open from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free. For more information about the St. Johns River Center or other City facilities, call 386-916-5916 or 386-329-0100, ext. 410.
City of Palatka’s culture arts coordinator, Courtney James’ new office, has one of the best views in the city. James can sit at his desk in the southeast corner of the City’s St. Johns River Center and watch the sunrise over the city’s Riverfront Park and the St. Johns River.
But for Courtney, the view from his office is not the best part of his job.
“The best part of my job is getting to meet people from different walks of life and I love that I get to give back to the community when we put on events,” he said.
Courtney has a wide range of duties with the City.
As Cultural Arts Coordinator with the Community Affairs Department, Courtney is responsible for managing the rentals of the City’s buildings, including the Price Martin Center, the Bronson-Mulholland House, the Old City Waterworks, and the St. Johns River Center. The buildings are available for parties, weddings, and other events. Information on renting the buildings can be found at www.Palatka-fl.gov. He also coordinates volunteers for the City and helps plan special events.
Born in Alabama, Courtney moved to Palatka when he was in elementary school with his family so they could be closer to his mother’s family.
“This is home. Most of my family are here; it is just home. It's a nice area. I love the town. I love the people here,” he said.
After graduating from Palatka Junior/Senior High School in 2004, where he was a star football player and wrestler, he attended William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on an athletic scholarship.
“It was so cold, I couldn't take dealing with -5-degree weather, and I was a long way from home, so I ended up transferring to Bethune-Cookman University,” he said.
After college, Courtney worked as a program director at a juvenile detention center in St. Augustine before coming to work for the City 2 years ago.
A big part of his job recently is reopening the St. River Center on the City’s riverfront. The center, which is a collaborative project between the City and Georgia-Pacific’s Palatka Operations, which had been closed since 2021 for renovations, is an educational center that tells the story of the unique ecosystem of the St. Johns River.
“Now that the center is reopened, I think we are going to see big crowds and people from out of town coming here and learning about what a special place this city is,” he said. “This is also a great place for field trips where students can learn about our area.”
Courtney is happy to work for the City because it gives him a way to showcase what the City has to offer to residents.
“ A City is a group of people who live side by side and may come from different cultures and backgrounds but have a lot in common. Having community events and community spaces helps bring the people of Palatka together,” he said. “I see this community growing. I have seen a dramatic change in the City in the two years that I have been here. I see people working together to make Palatka the best place that it can be. I am happy to be home and be a part of the City’s future.”
The St. Johns River Center, 102 N. First St. in Palatka, is open from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free. For more information about the St. Johns River Center or other City facilities, call 386-916-5916 or 386-329-0100, ext. 410.