ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Corridor Review Committee with the St. Augustine city government will meet Thursday afternoon to discuss a plan to bring a new carousel to Davenport Park.
The carousel located on San Marco Avenue, just off North Ponce De Leon Boulevard would replace the one that was torn down in 2019. It stood for decades and was an iconic St. Augustine staple.
The committee’s meeting centers around the design of the carousel, a ticket booth, concrete paving, and fencing.
At the park, signs giving public notice of the meeting are posted.
St. Augustine neighbors like Tiffany Collins have followed the carousel’s development plan since it was first introduced and hopes a final decision to bring it to the park will be made soon. She said she and her son enjoy coming to the library next door, so a carousel would be convenient.
“With story time on Tuesdays, being able to come and do that with the library, get some books, come over here, have lunch, ride the carousel, that’s an amazing time for the little kids,” Collins said.
Collins grew up in Jacksonville and remembers taking her oldest child to the carousel that stood before.
In the agenda packet, the person seeking the application to build the carousel included photos and renderings. A new carousel would be similar in appearance and structure to the original, with some minor differences.
READ: Proposal for new carousel in St. Augustine
At the meeting Thursday, the Corridor Review Committee members will look over the design and determine whether to approve or deny the application.
Calling a thriving tourist city home, Collins said a carousel is perfect for both visitors and locals.
“There’s a lot of bars and restaurants and things, but for the little kids that come and go, there are not a lot of parks here,” Collins said. “Moms like me, myself, are always looking for some fun stuff to do.”
The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.
If the committee approves the application, the city commission will still need to give the final green light for the carousel to be approved and built.
