JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars joined the Police Athletic League, Local Initiatives Service Corporation Jacksonville and the city of Jacksonville to inaugurate the newly refurbished community football fields in Jacksonville at Flossie Brunson Eastside Park on Tuesday.
This is the eighth grant Jacksonville has received for a new or refurbished community field from the NFL Grassroots Program of the NFL Youth Football Fund. The field will be operated by the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville and maintained by the city of Jacksonville.
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On hand for the ribbon cutting were Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, Jaguars players Jason Hill and Jarrett Dillard, members of The ROAR, the Jaguars cheerleaders, Sheriff John Rutherford, LISC President and CEO Michael Rubinger, City Councilman Johnny Gaffney, PAL Director Lt. Derrick Mitchell, Florida state Rep. Mia Jones, Pastor Torin Daley from First Baptist of Oakland Church and other dignitaries.
LISC Jacksonville, in conjunction with the Jacksonville Jaguars, helped secure $65,000 in funding to begin the project. The city contributed $190,000 from its Jacksonville Journey Funding for Capital Projects. Gaffney?s office contributed an additional $40,000. The Lucy Gooding Charitable Trust and Operation New Hope also contributed financially to the project.
The refurbishment effort included laser grading of the surface, a new irrigation system and sod, bringing the area up to ADA compliance standards, new bleachers, goal posts and fencing. Two new basketball courts and a sidewalk area are also being added.