Cecil Commerce Center
Published April 14, 2011 | 
We spent the morning riding through the Cecil Commerce Center area just to see what is there now. The south area of the complex still houses an Army Detachment, Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, various businesses related to aviation life Northrup Grumman as well as Florida State College of Jacksonville buildings for Aviation and Aerospace training and truck driver training. There are still some Army houses occupied by Army families (I am assuming as they are behind secured gates). There are a couple of parks, lakes and fitness center that is maintained by the city Parks and Recreations Department. The little post office is very cute. Surprisingly, for such a huge base there is not that much there. There is some of the original buildings that are yet to be occupied and there is not that much new building going on yet.
On the Northside of Normandy Boulevard there is the main FSCJ Cecil Campus, the Bridgestone Plant and a couple of more companies and lots of empty land. There are a couple of signs throughout that say there are between 5 to 5000 acre tracts available for sale for commercial building. On northside there is the Cecil Commerce Aquatic Center with a baseball field and nature trail. Across from that is the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. That is a very nice facility with a large indoor arena, barns, and camping facilities that include water, electric and septic disposal. All in all it was a pretty nice ride through the area and there are some nice pictures in our gallery below.
The Center has signs all over the place saying that it is “America’s Logistics Center” and it is supposed to be a future spaceport. Now we didn’t see any evidence of that but there is lots of room their to grow. State Road 23 even has a sign that states it will be a “Toll Road” in the future. But for that to happen they will need to build some overpasses.
Equestrian Center Events
FSCJ Aerospace Program
FSCJ Cecil Center
Cecil Campus Map
Find Out Whats In Your Neighborhood
Published February 8, 2010 | The City of Jacksonville has a great resource for residents on their web called JAXGis which is the Jacksonville Geographic Information Service maps. They include information based on a specific address about Flood zones, local schools, parks and much more. I put in our address and got a listing of which schools my children will be assigned to, what parks are nearby, what nursing homes, library branch, who the city council person was, US Congressman, Senators and much, much more. It also tells you whether or not your home is in a flood zone. That information is very important especially when you need to get housing or renters insurance. The city along with the Fire and Rescue Division has a static map you can print out that list the Hurricane zones for all areas of Jacksonville. I know that map is available in the hurricane literature but it is nice to know where to get it if you don’t already have one of those brochures or just want to look at one. Go to the http://www.coj.net/Departments/Fire+and+Rescue/Emergency+Preparedness/Preparedness/Evacuation+Zones+Map.htm and save it to your bookmarks or favorites to have instant access whenever you need it.
There are several other websites you might want to bookmark and visit periodically and they are the Jacksonville’s City Website, the Local Television Station Channel 4 and of course the FEMA government website. Each of these has a wealth of FREE Information for those who are willing to go there and read about it!
Jax4Kids
Published October 1, 2009 | If you want to know what to do on Jacksonville Florida’s Westside Area check out the JAX4KIDS website. It is loaded with great information about what to do and when special events are coming. They have things listed by dates, types of events and the sides of towns. This is a great website to add to your bookmarks or favorites. Some of the places to visit are listed below:
Bowling Alleys – Westside
Jax Lanes West
904-781-4422 / 6526 Ramona Blvd
http://www.jaxlaneswest.com/index.html
Bowl-O-Matic Phoenix Lanes
904-387-3569 / 2600 Blanding Blvd
www.phoenixbowling.com
Cassat Batt Bowl
904-389-2360 / 1838 Cassat Ave
Fellow Bowlers Comments Page
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Cecil Aquatics Center Pool
Swim indoors at Cecil Aquatics Center. This heated pool is open to the public and open all year long, except on major holidays. Free. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 9am – 8pm; Friday, 8am – 6pm; Saturday, 9am – 6pm; Sunday, 1pm – 6pm. Note: The pool is closed for maintenance from 2pm – 3pm Monday – Saturday.
904-573-8994 / 13611-A Normandy Blvd /
www.coj.net
Crystal Springs Road Park
40-acre park with nature trails, exercise course, picnic tables, grills, a pond, playground, tennis courts, and multi-purpose play fields.
Admission is free.
Park hours are 5am – 10pm.
904-693-4909 / 9800 Crystal Springs Rd /
www.coj.net
Jacksonville-Baldwin Rails to Trails
14 miles of trail along the former CSX railway line. Features a paved path for walking, running, or in-line skating. Plenty of shade along much of the trail. The East entrance is two-tenth mile north of Commonwealth Ave, on Imeson Road. Two additional trails are currently under construction: one for mountain biking and another for riding horses. NOTE- Be prepared to stop at points where highways intersect the trail.
904-630-4100 / East Entrance: two-tenth mile north of Commonwealth Ave on Imeson Road;
West entrance: North of Route 90 on Brandy Branch Rd /
www.coj.net
103rd Street Sports Complex
This city-owned park features a lighted asphalt Go-Kart track with bleachers, grills, restrooms, and parking. Use of the track is free. However, riders must have their own Go-Kart and equipment. Spectators are also welcome to come on race and non-race days. For more information or race schedules, contact the North Florida Kart Club.
Their website is http://www.nfkc.us/php/
904-219-8729 / 10244 103rd St / 103rd Street Sports Complex
Ringhaver Park
The park includes a two-mile asphalt path with wooden bridges, providing access to the Ortega River Nature Preserve for walkers, joggers and the handicapped. There are also softball and soccer fields, a covered picnic area, and an all-child playground.
Open 5am – 10pm.
904-630-4100 / 5198 118th St /
www.coj.net
Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park
(Formerly Westside Regional Park)
“With 509 acres, Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park is among the largest of all Jacksonville parks. It features a nature center and outdoor classroom, picnic area with grills and playground equipment, biking trails, a series of hiking and nature trails, and an elevated platform from which to view wetlands, soaring bald eagles, and other birds. Along the trails you will see evidence of Jacksonville’s past in the form of a 16-foot wide brick road built in the early 20th century.
Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park is headquarters for the city’s park naturalist who will gladly set up a nature walk or program for your organized group, club, school, or class.
All programs are free of charge and can be scheduled by calling 904-573-2498.”
Call ahead for park hours.
904-573-2498 / 7000 Roosevelt Blvd /
www.coj.net
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Adventure Landing
Two 18-hole miniature golf courses, Go-Karts, Laser Tag, Arcade.
904-771-2803 / 4825 Blanding Blvd /
Diamond D Ranch
Ranch and forest horseback riding for all ages. 1 hour trail ride – $35. 2 hours – $65. Or pack a lunch and go for half day – $140. Children under 7 years of age – a parent or adult can hand lead a pony while child rides in the saddle around the ranch and can see all kinds of animals, such as water and bison buffalos, deer, goats, sheep, lama, antelope, ostrich, cows, horses and many more. Over-night stays available in the their bunkhouse. Call to make a reservation.
904-289-9331/ 5903-1 Solomon Rd /
www.diamonddranchinc.com
Doing Dishes
Paint your own pottery studio. No lessons needed. $6 per person plus pottery.
904-388-7088 / 1026 Edgewood Ave. South /
www.doingdishes.com
Home Depot Kids’ Workshops
Free “How-To Clinics” designed for children ages 5-12. Offered the first Sat of each month between 9am and 12 noon. Children accompanied by an adult construct projects from pre-fabricated kits. The kits are designed to be both educational and practical. Teaches do-it-yourself skills and tool safety.
904-782-6208 / 855 Lane Ave S /
www.homedepot.com
Jungle Quest
Jungle Quest is a safe, fun and experiential challenge that teaches self confidence, responsibility, problem solving and teamwork. The jungle, which includes four private party rooms, a toddler area and an observation area for parents, is open seven days a week, 10am to 6pm.
Available for birthday parties, drop-in play, groups and special events, Jungle Quest features:
* Zooming Zip Lines: 75 feet long, suspended 17 feet in the air
* Traverse Swinging Bridges: 15-feet-long rope bridges suspended seven to nine feet in the air
* Rock Wall: 20-feet-high
Located across the street from JAX NAS Yorktown Gate
Jungle Quest / 904-779-7572 / 4616-1 Sub Chaser Court /
www.junglequest.net
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Chamblin Book Mine
A used and rare books store. Customers can exchange books for others they wish to read. Features a big kids book section with kid-sized tables where children can sit and enjoy the book offerings.
Hours are Mon-Sat, 10am – 6pm.
904-384-1685 / 4551 Roosevelt Blvd /
www.chamblinbookmine.com
Posted in Jax Westside Horse Riding, Jax Westside Kids Stuff, Jax Westside Local Businesses, Jax Westside Parks | 
Jacksonville Westside Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Westside Bowling, Jacksonville Westside Horseback Riding, Jacksonville Westside Kids Workshops, Jacksonville Westside Parks, Jacksonville Westside Pottery | 
Leave a commentJennings State Forest
Published August 18, 2009 | Some of our most precious resources are available to us for free. As with most parts of Jacksonville, Florida there are parks to play in and libraries to get books to read. When we were cruising around the westside last month we came across a new park called Old Jennings Forest. This is mostly a hiking and horseback riding area. There are some picnic tables and barbeque pits and of course bathroom facilities available. During the early morning hours we came across this place to watch a couple taking out their horses from their trailers to begin the trot through the trails. Jennings State Forest is sponsored by the State of Florida and the Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry to set aside areas for people to hike and ride their horses here in the city limits.
We didn’t get a chance to walk the trails but there is a camping area there as well. You reach the camping area by a forest road off of Live Oak Lane. You should check with the forest ranger to see what the current fees are and if you can take a vehicle on the forest road to the camping area.
Division of Forestry
Jennings State Forest
1337 Long Horn road
Middleburg, FL 32068
(904) 291-5530
Updates to Sites
Published October 12, 2008 | I am slowly getting the Jacksonville, Florida websites updated. We are collecting pictures of the areas. If you check out the pages section on the sidebar you will find different pages with information you can download and print. Some of the lists we have collected so far include a listing of the public schools on the Jacksonville’s Westside area, Jacksonville Parks in the Westside area, and DayCare Facilities available in the Westside of Jacksonville.
Each of the files we have on these pages is in an acrobat reader format and can be saved to your computer for future reference or printed. The parks and day care facilities are listed by zip code first and then alphabetical. The Public School listing is by type of school from Elementary to High School and then alphabetical. The school listing also has pictures of the schools, if they are available, or the school colors ans mascot picture.
You can access the pages from the listing on the sidebar or just click on the link below to be taken directly to the page itself:
Listing of Jacksonville Westside Area Day Cares by Zip Code
Listing of Jacksonville Westside Area Parks by Zip Code
Listing of Jacksonville Westside Area Public Schools
Have fun and stay tuned!
GoogleSearch
- RealSense income tax prep comes to Jacksonville's Main Library February 1, 2012The RealSense Prosperity Campaign, a United Way of North Florida initiative to help train taxpayers to prepare and file their own income tax returns, brings its BeeHive/MyFreeTaxes program to the Jacksonville Public Library’s main branch from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through April 11. read more […]Dan Scanlan
- Location of save the ferry meeting tonight has been moved to Presbyterian church in Mayport village January 30, 2012The Save the Ferry Task Force meeting scheduled for this evening has had the location moved due to a scheduling conflict over the use of the Mayport Community Center on Ocean Street. The meeting set for 5:30 p.m. was originally set for the center but organizers forgot that the Mayport Community Center is being prepared for Tuesday’s Republican presidentia […]Drew Dixon
- Support Groups January 28, 2012ADDICTIONAl-Anon and Alateen Family Groups, support for family/friends of alcoholics. Meet at various times and locations. (904) 350-0600 or jaxafg.org. Alcoholics Anonymous hotline and website available 24/7. (904) 399-8535 or neflaa.org. Alcoholics Anonymous open meeting, “Free to Be” Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual friendly group, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Mo […]Cindy Holifield