Community Spotlight: Jacksonville, Florida’s model combines deep local roots with national expertise

In Jacksonville, Florida, leaders are taking bold action to reverse the trend towards an “indoor childhood.” This “indoor childhood” has been linked to a growing physical and mental health crisis, affecting everything from social skills to confidence to overall well-being. Backed by a $6 million investment from the Winston Family Foundation, Project One Health JAX is implementing a first-of-its-kind model that combines national expertise with deep local roots.

Facilitated and supported by the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, what makes Jacksonville’s approach unique is its partnership model. Instead of relying on a single lead organization, Project One Health JAX provides citywide coordination and resources to four trusted nonprofits working in distinct neighborhoods: Groundwork Jacksonville, LIFT JAX, LISC Jacksonville, and the Partnership for Child Health.

With guidance from the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative and the Children & Nature Network, each nonprofit conducted extensive community engagement to inform its plans. Over 45 engagement activities reached nearly 1,900 residents, including children, teens, parents and caregivers. From school gardens and neighborhood walkabouts to large community events, residents shared what matters most to them: safe, welcoming green spaces; opportunities for play; intergenerational programs; and pathways to youth leadership.

The result is four tailored implementation plans that will launch this fall. Each plan is designed to reduce screen time, activate underused parks and trails, and create meaningful nature connections for Jacksonville’s children and teens.

Each nonprofit has translated community feedback into concrete initiatives that reflect the unique needs and aspirations of its neighborhood.

• Groundwork Jacksonville (Brentwood neighborhood)
  Brentwood residents wanted safe and vibrant spaces where kids could play, learn and grow together. Groundwork Jacksonville is transforming the northern stretch of the Emerald Trail S-Line into a thriving nature hub, featuring a microforest, outdoor classroom and natural play areas. They are also equipping schools with tools and training to encourage students to spend time outdoors and incorporate nature into everyday lessons through dynamic youth clubs.
• LIFT JAX (Eastside neighborhood)
  Building on its collective impact model, LIFT JAX is activating parks, gardens and schools through urban farming, eco-excursions and youth leadership programs. Community members emphasized intergenerational connections, so the plan features family-focused activities and creative wayfinding that improves access to neighborhood parks.
• LISC Jacksonville (New Town)
  In New Town, the focus is on building relationships and healthy habits through nature. Partnering with S.P. Livingston Elementary and other youth-serving organizations, LISC will provide after-school programming that includes gardening, sensory-based exploration and mindfulness practices. These experiences are designed to help children develop resilience while also encouraging families to reconnect with each other outdoors.
• Partnership for Child Health (Springfield neighborhood)
  Springfield residents prioritized workforce development and stewardship. The Partnership for Child Health is responding with a badge-based Youth Ecological Stewardship Program, monthly wellness and cultural events, and a teen Trail Stewardship Program that activates the Emerald Trail. Their work blends health, advocacy and outdoor experiences in ways that strengthen both families and the broader community.

To support and scale the work, Project One Health JAX convenes a regional, multi-sector Advisory Council to help align policy and systems change with neighborhood-level efforts — again emphasizing citywide coordination across all of Jacksonville. The Advisory Council will help remove barriers to implementation and provide strategic guidance, ensuring that local programs are reinforced by citywide advocacy.

Together, these plans reflect four collective outcomes, which were identified by Project One Health JAX as a priority across all neighborhoods:

1. Screen detox: reducing time on devices and the harmful effects of tech overuse
2. Nature and play: ensuring kids spend more time in nature, more often
3. Connection and community: fostering stronger face-to-face relationships
4. Advocacy and empowerment: equipping youth to become champions for environmental health

To build on this momentum, Nature Everywhere Communities recently hosted the Project One Health Jacksonville Vision Lab, marking the official launch of the implementation phase. The Vision Lab brought together the four neighborhood teams to share their plans, strengthen collaboration and prepare for the work ahead. Participants engaged in sessions on team effectiveness, youth development and nature, and digital wellness. All topics are designed to support their efforts to expand children’s access to nature and reduce screen time in Jacksonville’s urban core.

Participants also learned about local programming and partnership opportunities. A guided nature journaling exercise offered practical ways to weave this activity into community events and youth programs. The outing provided time to reflect, connect and experience the joy of nature together, an inspiring start to this next chapter of work.

Project One Health JAX is making significant investments to make nature an everyday part of childhood across the city’s urban core. These investments combine national strategy and neighborhood leadership, ensuring that solutions are both evidence-based and locally relevant.

Most importantly, this work is not happening in isolation. By listening deeply to residents, empowering local nonprofits and connecting with a national movement, Jacksonville has developed a model that other cities can look to as they work to ensure every child grows up with the joy and benefits of nature.

Nature Everywhere Communities initiative

The Nature Everywhere Communities initiative was launched in November 2023 by the Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities and KABOOM!, with the goal of advancing equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play in 100 communities by 2025. 

The effort builds on lessons learned over the past nine years of providing technical assistance, training, resources and grants in more than 50 U.S. cities through Cities Connecting Children to Nature, a program specifically designed for municipal leaders. Nature Everywhere Communities is an expansion of this proven approach, as it welcomes leadership from both city and regional governments as well as school districts and the nonprofit, philanthropic and private sectors. 

Through a competitive application process, communities are selected to join the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative. They receive assistance in strategic planning, technical support and start-up funding to develop and implement community-driven plans for connecting children to nature-based experiences and learning. 

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