We’re excited to announce the establishment of the Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) Legacy Endowment in partnership with the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. Setting aside $50,000 of our savings is just the beginning. This fund is all about securing our longevity and ensuring RAP is here to meet the current and future needs of this neighborhood for generations to come.

Riverside and Avondale is a treasure trove of history, art, and culture – a place where generations have built memories, families, and a vibrant community. The RAP Legacy Endowment is our commitment to preserving this unique area’s character, beauty, and legacy. By supporting the endowment, you’re helping to ensure that our parks, historic landmarks, local businesses, and public spaces continue to thrive for years to come.

Investing in RAP today preserves the groundwork that has been built over the last 50 years. Every contribution builds a lasting legacy. Join us in honoring the past, celebrating the present, and investing in our future.

50 Years of Riverside Avondale Preservation

  • 1974: RAP founded by 150 residents to save historic structures. First membership dues: 25¢. Inaugural Home Tour and Fourth of July Picnic. 
  • 1975: First Executive Director hired. Riverside Arts Festival launched. RAP blocks freeway construction through Riverside. 
  • 1977: Station Celebration fundraiser raises $45,000 for historic preservation efforts.
  • 1980: RAP membership reaches 2,000, strengthening efforts to stop harmful zoning.
  • 1984: Inaugural Luminaria event becomes an annual tradition. 
  • 1985: Riverside was listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989, Avondale was added.
  • 1990: Jacksonville Historic Preservation Ordinance passed. RAP saves a dozen historic homes. 
  • 1991: RAP headquarters established at the Buckland House. 
  • 1998: RADO formed to restore historic homes and provide affordable housing. Local historic district designation secured. 
  • 2008: Riverside Arts Market (RAM) debuts. Zoning overlay enacted to protect the neighborhood. 
  • 2010: Riverside Avondale named a Top 10 Neighborhood in the U.S. by the American Planning Association. 
  • 2016: RAP builds the Riverside Avondale Community Garden and the John Gorrie Dog Park 
  • 2018: RAP launches ReLeaf, planting 350 trees in public spaces. 
  • 2024: Home Tour celebrates 50 years. Inaugural Music Tour introduced, expanding cultural programming.