BY MELISSA PYLE
Special to the Telegraph
Lawtey Recreation Board Chairman Isaac Williams reported a very successful meeting of the recreation board during which board members and the public shared ideas for the Middleburg Road redevelopment project.
Williams had a packet on hand showing city council members possibilities for the future of Lawtey and the north end of Bradford County.
“We aren’t just looking at it as a building but as a rural redevelopment project,” he said.
Members envisioned fully operational building with proper lighting, wi-fi, outdoor pavilions, a modern playground, walking trails and proper security. Those were needs, but they also dreamed big with a wish list that included a community pool, regulation size basketball court and auxiliary building for business use.
Williams said the group agreed that the best path forward was to tear down the existing structure and have a recreational engineer develop a site plan that integrates features, layout and long-term maintenance needs.
“This needs to be seen as a renovation of our city,” he said, emphasizing the need for the council to enforce the cleanup of the surrounding properties that are either abandoned or rundown. He said there’s no point in having a $1 million complex while not cleaning up the surrounding areas.
He said the recreation board members want to recognize those who sacrificed in the past to make the old property viable for the community, but moving forward the city and the surrounding community should plan for a space that will provide opportunities for economic development.
Williams did clarify that the citizens said they do not want one block torn down until the council agrees to and put a real plan in place.
Williams said he plans to have three bids from engineers by the next city council meeting. He said he looks forward to creating a public-private partnerships in which businesses can invest in a location that could house daycare, college classes and recreation facilities The future property could create rental revenue for the city.
“If we don’t dream now, it will never come to fruition,” he said.
The council voted unanimously to accept the presentation.
In other news:
—late fees on water bills are being waived due to the issue of lost mail. The Lawtey Post Office has a shortage of workers and now sends all mail, even local, to be sorted in Jacksonville. The process has caused the delay or loss of mail. Many city residents didn’t receive their bills last month.
—Maj. Nathan Blom sat in for Chief Feltner, requesting a firearms update. The cost to replace all officers’ sidearms will be $10,786 and will be paid for out of public safety funds. Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase.
—Florida Department of Transportation will resurface U.S. 301 in March 2026. Concerns over proposed detours and dangerous impacts on local infrastructure were addressed. Attorney Dan Sikes will meet with FDOT and the police department to discuss the plans.
—Lawtey Recreation Board will meet June 23 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Lawtey City Council will meet July 7 at 7 p.m.
