A Walk in the Park by Caitlin Fleming, Wakulla County Parks and Recreation Department

{sidebar id=1}Azalea Park is a beautiful walk through nature and nostalgia with lush greenery and a rich history of a man who loved Wakulla County.

Jewell Hudson, a native of Jay Florida bought some property in the middle of Crawfordville and named it Hudson Heights.  A bachelor who loved nature and children, Hudson generously gave five parks to Wakulla County, one of those parks carrying his namesake, and one roughly 7.8 acre park named for his favorite flower.  Before his death in 1985, Mr. Hudson himself planted many of the azaleas and camellias that bloom today.  A monument is erected in Azalea Park in his honor for his contributions to our county.

The full potential of Azalea Park wasn’t discovered until a grant to improve the park was awarded to the Parks and Recreation Department in 1994.  Working closely with the middle school S.W.A.T kids under Sue Anderson, Azalea Park was transformed.  The kids helped to bury the irrigation pipes, build picnic tables and the gazebos.  S.W.A.T. actually received a national award for their work with the grant.

 Now Azalea Park has beautiful antique lamp posts and park benches, two exercise stations and a walking trail that many enjoy everyday.  Walk four laps around the track at Azalea Park and you have walked from the courthouse to Wal-Mart.  Walk four laps every day for nine days and you have walked to Tallahassee. 

Take a walk around this beautiful park this week and pay your respects to the man whose dream was a beautiful park for kids and adults to enjoy.  You might be surprised where you end up.

- Caitlin Fleming

(Photo courtesy of Sara Daw)

This article originally published on September 3, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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