John’s Memorial Pavilion Expansion Project

We are currently working to expand our outdoor facilities to accommodate more students with a new outdoor classroom in honor of John M. Golden. This facility will allow us to provide rain shelter, better education programs and a safer location for school groups. This addition will be connected to the current pavilion but will sit off the road for fewer distractions. A second educational group or public visitors can use the existing pavilion simultaneously. Our new facility will be a secure building over-looking the Pine Flatwoods and wetlands directly behind our existing pavilion and will alleviate weather concerns to a large degree. A fully accessible facility with a back door will give a better impression of being in the woods with less traffic noise. This facility will truly allow us to provide the best education programs for the children of Duval and surrounding counties.

Thanks to John the UNF Nature Trails accommodate over 2,500 students each year on environmental educational field trips. We have developed seven education programs fully integrated with local schools accountability needs. All programs are hands-on and are performed outside. Please see the Education Programs link to read more of the legacy John has begun. We plan to break ground when enough funds are collected.

Please contact Ryan Meyer with any questions and how you can donate to help this project to become a reality, (904) 620-1810, rmeyer@unf.edu.