Recently, our region came together to successfully stop the proposed land swap at the Guana Preserve, protecting irreplaceable natural lands from being lost to development. That effort showed the power of community voices standing up for what matters.

Importantly, that proposal was nearly rushed through with barely a week’s notice, after being quietly announced on May 14 for a May 21 vote. Many of us fear the same is happening here in Mandarin, where the community is only now becoming aware of a project that has been quietly advancing with little public input or transparency.

Many residents along Mandarin Road also report they never received the JTA survey postcard that was supposedly sent out in Fall 2024. This raises even more questions about how community feedback was gathered and whether the outreach process was fair and complete.

While this is being described as a “safety project,” many in the community see a plan that risks permanently damaging the beauty, history, and environment of this beloved scenic road.

No pedestrian or safety studies have been provided to show a real need.
Over 1,100 neighbors have signed a petition asking decision-makers to pause and reconsider. No environmental impact or ecological studies , how will nesting birds be affected ?
We’ve already seen what happened with the south Mandarin sidewalk—trees lost, cracked concrete, and poor long-term maintenance.

Like with Guana, the community is simply asking for transparency, facts, and thoughtful planning before making changes that can’t be undone. They need to rethink and pause this proposed sidewalk extension 

Mandarin Road is part of Jacksonville’s history and deserves the same care and consideration we showed Guana.

We hope this conversation will continue with the full involvement of the people who live here and will be most affected by what happens