J.S. Johnson Park

A Slice of Brooklyn History

J.S. Johnson Park sits on what was once farmland - a former plantation in Jacksonville's Brooklyn section where corn and cotton once grew under the Florida sun.

The area has quite the backstory. In 1868, Confederate veteran Miles Price mapped out the neighborhood, leaving his mark by naming nearby Stonewall and Jackson Streets after the renowned Southern general Stonewall Jackson.

From Plantation to Community Space

Between 1967 and 1969, the City of Jacksonville acquired this patch of land, transforming it into the green space we enjoy today. Both the park and its service center (built in 1970) honor the legacy of Reverend John S. Johnson (1884-1969).

Rev. Johnson wasn't just any community figure. He devoted his life to ministry, serving several African Methodist Episcopal (AME) churches throughout Jacksonville and leading St. Stephens AME Church until his passing. His community involvement extended well beyond the pulpit - he sat on the board of directors for Edwards Waters College and the Eartha M. M. White Nursing Home, while also contributing to the executive committee of the NAACP.

A Neighborhood Haven

The park's service center provides free meals to both children and seniors in the area.

If you're looking for some outdoor recreation, you can find tennis courts where you can practice your serve and playground equipment where the little ones can burn off energy. Its convenient location makes it a welcome green retreat for families living in this downtown Jacksonville neighborhood.