CONCEPTION
Friends Ruth Thompson and Hazel Clery regularly pass Peace Memorial Park at the corner of Park & Cherry Streets on their daily walks. During one particular walk in April 2022, Ruth remarked that she always felt that the space was perfect for a labyrinth. The park was primarily all grass with a lone bench.
Soon after this, Ruth and Hazel attended a public meeting, hosted by the City of Jacksonville department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, focused on the improvement of public spaces in the city. They connected their idea for a labyrinth with city leadership and Riverside Avondale Preservation, which became the sponsoring organization for the project.
Ann Burt, who had recently moved into the area, and landscape architect, Ladd Roberts, of Landwise Designs, quickly joined Ruth and Hazel to form the Friends of the Labyrinth committee. Sharon Qualls, a labyrinth enthusiast, also later joined the committee.
The last four years have been spent on the winding journey to reach the goal of creating a peaceful space in the heart of the Riverside Avondale Historic District.
HISTORY
Inauguration for the labyrinth took place May 7, 2022, during RAP’s 2nd annual Garden Tour. A 40-foot labyrinth was painted on the site for all to explore and simulate the experience of walking the actual labyrinth one day. Friends of the Labyrinth committee member, Ladd Roberts, was onsite to talk about the project, including the integration of landscaping and public art.
The following year, the space was again activated for showcasing the proposed Labyrinth project. For this activation, we focused on showcasing the calming energy of the space, including sound bowls and meditation offerings. An educational plan was developed that could serve future student groups from nearby schools, the neighborhood, or library programs.
During the last two years of fundraising (2024-2025) for the labyrinth, the committee hosted multiple raffles, silent auctions, and Poker Nights. Macquarie Group, a multi-national financial institution with a Jacksonville-based office, hosted company events and corporate matching programs, ultimately helping raise more than $50,000 for the project overall. The committee attended the Riverside Arts Market on a regular basis, selling bricks that will line the entry into the space. The team was engaged fully in the community helping bring this project to life.
Landscape design has always been an important feature of this project. To incorporate the Labyrinth into Peace Memorial Park, the committee worked with Ladd Roberts of Landwise Design Jax. Ladd was a vital part of the project during every step. He designed multiple versions of this project until it entered into the construction phase with a team of contractors with the City of Jacksonville. One day, visitors will be enclosed through a design of thoughtful hedges that retain the peaceful atmosphere. Flowers and greenery will line abundantly fill the space, ensuring the feeling of peace and calm.
PROJECT PHASES
The Labyrinth is only one part of the overall project for Peace Memorial Park. The original vision for the space was to complete the construction of a 40-foot world-class, stone labyrinth (Phase I), followed by landscaping and park amenities (Phase II), and completed with public art (Phase III), to enhance the visitors’ time at the labyrinth and create a true space for peace and meditation.
A MAJOR UPGRADE
In 2025, the Labyrinth got a major boost. Local philanthropists Wayne & Delores Barr Weaver began working with the City of Jacksonville to look at the entirety of Peace Memorial Park, consider its history and purpose, and uplift the area more fully. What began as a $250,000 project turned into a $1,000,000 investment to include a grand entrance, landscaping, state of the art seating, and memorials honoring individuals’ legacies.
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
The project broke ground in March 2026 led by a construction team with Akon through the City of Jacksonville Parks Department. The project timeline works through the summer, with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2026.
BRICKS
Pavers that will create the walkway leading to the labyrinth will create a lasting memorial at the site. The labyrinth will serve the City of Jacksonville and all its residents. Bricks are still available for purchase HERE.
SPONSORS
Critical to this project were our sponsors. Several people donated critical funds to this project through hosted fundraisers, in-kind gifts, art donations that we used for silent auctions, and brick purchases. These donors are the reason the labyrinth was able to advance. Here is a short list of the top donors to the project:
MORE ABOUT LABYRINTHS
What is a labyrinth?
A labyrinth is an ancient meditative tool – a symbol for life’s journey. This labyrinth is modeled after the 13th century labyrinth in Chartres, France. It has one path that winds in a circuitous path to the center, symbolizing our spiritual journey. Unlike a maze, the inward and outward turns are deliberate in design – there are no dead ends or decisions to be made. One can trust that the path leads to the center and back out again. The world surrounds us. Constant stresses and noise abound. Finding time to be still to hear your internal wisdom is becoming harder and harder. The labyrinth can help us reconnect to the spirit within and to feel presence in the midst of this chaotic and noisy world.
World Labyrinth Day
Every year, on the first Saturday in May, thousands of people around the globe participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience. Many “Walk as One” at 1 p.m. local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next.