Friends Of James Weldon Johnson Park

Name

Friends Of James Weldon Johnson Park

Legal name

Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park

Website

https://jamesweldonjohnsonpark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that manages and programs Jacksonville's historic James Weldon Johnson Park under contract with the City of Jacksonville, hosting 300+ free community events annually for Downtown residents and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Park Management and Community Programming

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Sports & Recreation Festivals (Fun Runs, Local Games Days) (MPAGAEAN)

Keywords

• Park management services
• Community event programming
• Public space revitalization
• Cultural festival organization
• Nonprofit park operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. City of Jacksonville Contract: The nonprofit is contracted with the City of Jacksonville to manage and revitalize the historic public park. This provides foundational operational funding.
2. Public Donations: The organization solicits donations from individuals and community members to support park programming and maintenance.
3. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors like Visit Jacksonville provide funding for specific events and festivals.
4. VIP Event Packages: Premium ticketed experiences at festivals (e.g., $30 VIP packages at Brew & BBQ with unlimited beer refills, shade, and raffle entries).
5. Food Truck and Vendor Fees: Fees collected from food trucks and vendors participating in park events and regular programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends Of James Weldon Johnson Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization contracted with the City of Jacksonville to manage and program James Weldon Johnson Park in Downtown Jacksonville. The organization activates the public space through daily and weekly live music, cultural festivals, art installations, a food truck and vendor court, and community programming free to the public. The nonprofit curates and operates more than 300 events and programs each year to drive foot traffic, cultural engagement, and downtown revitalization.

Product overview

Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park offers park management and community programming services for Jacksonville's first and most historic public park. The organization provides a unified platform of live music series (Jazz in the Park, Live at Lunch), cultural festivals (Brew & Barbecue, Emancipation Celebration, Hip Hop Festival, Art in the Park, Sweet September, Cajun Fest, Galaxy Fest), ongoing art installations (UNF Sculpture Project), and food service amenities (Food Truck Court). The 160 Years of Stories campaign in 2026 commemorates the park's sesquicentennial with 160 community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• James Weldon Johnson Park Daily Programming & Live Entertainment Year-round live music, cultural performances, and family programming delivered through daily and weekly schedules curated and operated by the nonprofit for the Downtown Jacksonville community.
• Jazz in the Park Monthly live jazz concert series presented in James Weldon Johnson Park for the general public.
• Brew & Barbecue Festival Annual festival combining craft beverage offerings with barbecue and live entertainment for the general public.
• Emancipation Celebration Annual cultural celebration commemorating Emancipation Day/Juneteenth with programming, vendors, and performances.
• Hip Hop Festival Annual hip hop music and culture festival held in the park featuring local artists and DJ programming.
• Art in the Park Curated art installation series featuring works by local artists displayed throughout the park year-round.
• UNF Sculpture Project Public sculpture project developed in partnership with the University of North Florida, installed in the park.
• Sweet September Annual September community festival featuring music, food, and family activities for the general public.
• Cajun Fest Annual Cajun-themed festival with food, music, and cultural programming for the general public.
• Galaxy Fest Annual themed community festival featuring space/sci-fi-inspired programming and family activities.
• Food Truck & Craft Vendor Court Rotating marketplace of local food trucks and craft vendors operating from the park, providing food, beverage, and merchandise to visitors.
• Park Event Space Rental Rental of the park's outdoor spaces for private events, corporate functions, and VIP gatherings, including customized event packages.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The ScienceSISminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to present Galaxy Fest, a science festival for girls of color featuring STEM professionals, interactive exhibits, and hands-on activities.
• JTA (Jacksonville Transportation Authority)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Presenting sponsor of Galaxy Fest 2023.
• UNF Sculpture DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration launched in 2019 with UNF Sculpture students creating sculptures for annual installation in the park. Made possible through generous donation from Preston Haskell/Haskell Foundation. Partnership continues through 2024 with student-created artwork displayed annually.
• Visit JacksonvillecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTwo-time event sponsor of Brew & Barbecue festival. Provides marketing and promotional support for park events as the destination marketing organization for Jacksonville.
• Yaya ProductionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFull-service events company providing event planning, management, consultation, public relations, and social media marketing. Co-presenter of major festivals including Cajun Fest, Sweet September, and Bluegrass Beer & BBQ.
• The Jazz Discovery SeriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership to present world-class jazz concerts featuring artists like Dayna Stephens, along with student performances and educational programming.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Central Park Conservancy: Large nonprofit conservancy managing Central Park under contract with NYC. Operates a similar public-private management model, raises philanthropic capital for capital improvements, and runs extensive programming — though at materially greater scale.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating and protecting urban parks and public land, often partnering with municipalities on park creation and design. Comparable as a broader nonprofit park-management organization but operates nationally and at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Klyde Warren Park: Nonprofit-managed 5.2-acre urban deck park in Downtown Dallas offering free daily programming including fitness, music, food trucks, and cultural events. Public-private partnership model with the City of Dallas closely mirrors JWJ Park's structure and event-driven operating approach.
• HemisFair Park (City of San Antonio): Urban public park in Downtown San Antonio hosting free cultural events, festivals, and food/beverage programming under a nonprofit civic operator. Comparable mid-size urban park with similar event curation, food vendor partnerships, and civic positioning.
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit that partners with the City of Pittsburgh to manage and revitalize urban parks, including Schenley Plaza and Frick Park. Operates free public events, food vendor programming, and capital campaigns — directly comparable structure and scope to Friends of JWJ Park.
• Riverside Arts Market: Jacksonville-based weekly outdoor arts and food market under the Riverside Avondale Preservation organization. Closest local geographic peer with similar mission of providing free public programming, supporting local artists/food entrepreneurs, and driving community engagement in Jacksonville.
• Bryant Park Corporation: Nonprofit that operates Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan under a public-private partnership with NYC Parks. Runs year-round free cultural programming, food kiosks, and events — the closest structural analog to Friends of JWJ Park in a denser urban context.
• Friends of the High Line: Nonprofit conservancy that operates New York City's High Line under a public-private partnership with NYC Parks. Operates free programming, food concessions, art installations, and a capital maintenance model — a similar urban-park nonprofit operator at larger scale and brand prestige.

Regional players

• Downtown Vision Inc. Jacksonville Downtown Improvement District that manages public space activation, events, and beautification in the same downtown footprint as JWJ Park. Closest local peer operating complementary public-space programming and economic development initiatives.

Others

• Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville: Local nonprofit arts agency stewarding arts funding on behalf of the City of Jacksonville. Shares funding sources, governance overlap (board member Diana Donovan), and programmatic overlap in cultural festival funding — adjacent enabling peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/JWJParkJax
• Facebookfacebook.com/jamesweldonjohnsonpark
• Instagraminstagram.com/jamesweldonjohnsonpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/james-weldon-johnson-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends Of James Weldon Johnson Park