Jacksonville

“America’s Health Center”

City of Jacksonville

Jacksonville is the largest city in land area in the contiguous United States and the largest deepwater port in the south. It is located in the First Coast region of northeast Florida and centered on the banks of the St. Johns River, about 25 miles south of the Georgia border and about 340 miles north of Miami.  It has miles and miles of unspoiled white sand coastline, with some of the best sport fishing and boating in America.

Named for Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of the Florida Territory and seventh President of the United States, it is homeport to Carnival Cruise Lines and home to more than 70 public and private golf courses courses and an annual PGA Tour stop.

Jacksonville is a rapidly growing municipality and recognized as a national leader in managing development.  In 2006, it ranked 11th in Inc. magazine’s list of “Best Cities for Doing Business” for 2006.  It is also known for its convenient location, mild climate, reasonable cost of living, and high quality of life.

Jacksonville has mild weather during winters and hot weather during summers. The tends to be cooler than the Florida peninsula to the south. Winters can be marked by spells of cold weather, and limited snow or ice occur once every few years but outdoor events and sports outings can be comfortably accommodated year round.  Normal annual precipitation is 51.3 inches, with the largest monthly totals accumulating from July through September.

A network of high-profile healthcare facilities are found in Jacksonville, among them Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic, St. Luke’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Shands Jacksonville, University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, offering many top programs, from cancer treatment, cardiac health and advanced rehabilitation therapies to dialysis, pediatrics, bariatric surgery, family medicine, key medical research projects and much more.

“Must-See” Jacksonville Attractions:

• Jacksonville Landing
• Jacksonville Riverwalks
• Friendship Fountain
• Jacksonville Maritime Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
• The Museum of Science & History
• Alexander Brest Planetarium.
• Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery
• The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
• The Karpeles Manuscript Library
• The Catherine Street Fire Station
• The LaVilla Museum
• The Klutho Building
• The Old Morocco Temple Building
• The Palm and Cycad Arboretum
• The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
• The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
• Shipwreck Island
• Adventure Landing

Jacksonville’s Park System

Jacksonville boasts one of the largest urban park systems in the country, providing facilities and services at more than 337 locations on more than 80,000 acres located throughout the city.  Jacksonville enjoys natural beauty from the St. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean. Many parks provide access for people to boat, swim, fish, sail, jetski, surf and waterski. Several parks around the city have received international recognition.  Some parks and sites to see include:

• Tree Hill Nature Center
• Hemming Plaza
• The Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens
• The Veterans Memorial Wall
• The Treaty Oak at Jessie Ball DuPont Park
• The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail

Entertainment and Performing Arts:

• The Florida Theatre
• The Florida Theatre, opened in 1927, is located in downtown Jacksonville and is one of only four remaining high-style movie palaces built in Florida during the Mediterranean Revival architectural boom of the 1920s.
• Theatre Jacksonville
• The Riverside Theater
• The Ritz Theatre
• The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
• Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
• The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
• The Alhambra Dinner Theatre

City of Jacksonville Senior Services

Social service programs serving older adults in Jacksonville support successful aging, offer volunteer experiences, enhance safety, increase enjoyment of life and maximize self-sufficiency.

Senior Services programs include:

• Community and senior centers
• Foster Grandparent Program
• Independent Living Program (For homebound seniors and caregivers)
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Transportation Services

Jacksonville Retirement Community: Cecil Pines

Cecil Pines is an affordable, quiet, friendly 53-acre retirement  community.  Once a bustling Naval air station, it has found its niche among the pines, serene lake and miles of walking paths.  It has a charming small town neighborhood feel with the safety of a 24-hour emergency response system and gated-entry.

Vibrant senior residents experience independent living in an inspiring natural setting and maintenance-free community – all details in the home, outside the home and in the yard are maintained by the Active Adult Community giving residents the freedom to pursue life’s pleasures.

Residents enjoy spending afternoons with friends, strolling the park-like campus and nearby lake, attending exercise classes or just sitting back on their patio and watching the colorful wildlife wander by including wild turkey, deer and fox.   Others like to embrace a more adventurous lifestyle like riding their motorcycles along Jacksonville’s rural roads or hitting the road in their RVs.

Cecil Pines is an Active Adult Community offering single-family and duplex homes. The homes are spacious 1200-1500 square foot accommodations and all are single story with full kitchens, sun rooms, carports and private patios, maintenance services and other amenities.

Residents of Cecil Pines experience independent, maintenance-free living in a peaceful, safe and secure setting.

Cecil Pines is a member of the Front Porch Communities Cecil and supported philanthropically by California Lutheran Homes and Community Services.

For more information, visit their website at www.cecilpines.org or contact them toll free at 888-968-0905.