Summer Projects and Improvements
by Troy Bell, Palatka City Manager
Summer is here, and big projects are coming to Palatka. One of the most anticipated is the long-awaited City portion of the St. Johns Avenue improvement project, stretching from the railroad crossing between 13th and 11th Streets east to 4th Street. Contractors have already started working. This work, part of a multi-million-dollar improvement project in partnership with Putnam County and the Florida Department of Transportation, aims to repair, resurface, and enhance the road.
Although inconveniences with any project of this scale are inevitable, the City staff has tailored our part of the project to cause as few disruptions as possible to residents and businesses. Most of the road milling and resurfacing will be done at night and after business hours. To follow the progress of the work and for more information, please visit www.Palatka-Fl.Gov/StJohns. As always, feel free to contact me at (386) 329-0100 or manager@Palatka-Fl.Gov with questions or concerns.
Another long-overdue improvement getting underway this summer is a new roof for the Palatka Police Department. The building’s roof, which was built in the late 1960s, has been leaking for some time.
Other projects include installing new energy-efficient air conditioning units at the City’s Robert H. Jenkins Community Center on Napoleon Street and upgrading security at City Hall. Over the past several months, staff have worked hard to spruce up City buildings, including landscaping, pressure washing, and organizing workspaces.
Last week, we received good news from Tallahassee: the approval of several state grants for the City. These grants include $50,000 for improvements to both the Palm Bowl and Shaw Buck Parks, $367,900 for restoration work on the City’s historic Bronson-Mulholland House, $250,000 for new police cars, and $3,500,000 for waterline improvements.
Two unique historical markers were unveiled this week. The Central Academy Historical Marker from the National Trust was unveiled on Wednesday. Central Academy, established in 1892 on North 13th St., became Florida’s first accredited African-American high school in 1924. The school closed in 1971. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and is now owned by the Palatka Housing Authority.
On Saturday, the City unveiled a marker on the former Mary Lawson Hospital site on the corner of South 9th Street and St. Johns Avenue. The hospital opened in 1918 in segregated Palatka to serve the city’s African American community members. In 1922, it began treating both Black and white patients. Over the following decades, the hospital continued as an integrated facility in largely segregated Florida, with an integrated staff treating all patients regardless of race. The hospital closed in 1958.
The City’s Juneteenth celebration was also held on Saturday, June 22, at the Robert H. Jenkins Community Center. The event, organized by the City’s Community Affairs Department, brought people together to recognize this significant day in American history and to have a nice family day.
Juneteenth is a time for reflection, education, and celebration of African American culture and achievements. The City of Palatka’s event aimed to foster community spirit and educate attendees about the holiday’s historical importance. It was great seeing and meeting so many people who participated in all three events.
Feel free to contact me at (386) 329-0100 or Manager@Palatka-Fl.Gov with questions or concerns.