Haskell’s Planning + Design Cooperative (P+DC) is again partnering with the Town of Orange Park to bring a dynamic Town Square conceptual vision to life through a comprehensive master planning process. Building on the success of Haskell’s 2021 Vision2040 Plan, which charted a strategic roadmap for the town's next 20 years, this new effort aims to create a town square that embodies the community's spirit and future aspirations.  

As in all master plans, priorities emerge based on immediate needs.  The Town’s leadership identified two key initiatives from the Vision2040 Plan: 

• Enhancing connectivity through walking, biking and better streets 
• Developing a new Town Square 

These initiatives became a reality as Haskell’s Planning +Design Collaborative, led by its Director, Fred Jones, completed a comprehensive vision for a complete street program in 2022. 

As in all successful master plans, stakeholder interaction was vital to setting the groundwork. Multiple desires came to the forefront, among them, a “village feel,” small town character, ample green spaces, existing tree preservation, human-scaled architectural styles, connectivity, walkability and, lastly, an identifiable “Town Square “to improve branding and create an overall sense of place.  The original strategic vision plan was Orange Park’s first, and this initiative is helping to implement the priorities of that vision.  

The project’s cornerstone is its thorough integration of the public engagement process, which began in July with a series of engaging and interactive community events designed to gather valuable input and spark excitement. Haskell’s P+DC team conducted a three-day, onsite public charrette peppered with fun and interactive activities, such as Mentimeter surveys, which allow participants to share their thoughts and preferences in real-time, as well as Visual Preference and Dot exercises, where people walk up and place green or red dots on large boards depicting alternative approaches to mobility, landscape, massing, scale aesthetics, and other elements. As more incentive for community oversight, the team also conducted a Walking Audit, letting community members experience the town’s streets firsthand and discuss what they loved or needed improvement.  

The charrette concluded with an "Outbrief" presentation, summarizing key findings and outlining the next steps. The excitement was palpable, but the engagement didn't stop there. It extends beyond the Town Hall walls with the team’s launch of a Blue Sky exercise through a SurveyMonkey survey, inviting everyone to share their big ideas and bold visions for the Town Square.  

Haskell’s approach blends data analysis, visionary planning and, most importantly, the voices of the Town of Orange Park’s residents and business community. Together, all stakeholders are crafting a Town Square that embodies the highest values of the community: local authenticity, a small-town feeling of neighborliness, a high-quality lifestyle, public green spaces and a walkable town square with a charming mix of uses. This initiative is more than just a project; it's a collaborative journey towards a vibrant and thriving community hub that will be a source of pride for future generations.  

Haskell’s P+DC is helping the Town of Orange Park be "closer to what matters" and bringing the community closer to realizing its dreams. Contact us and let us know how P+DC can help your town envision and achieve its future goals. Let’s work together to create vibrant, thriving community spaces that genuinely matter.