The “ family-oriented ” space will include botanical gardens , event lawns , a dune overlook , and a family and garden zone with a splash pad . Water features are part of the design , with ponds and fountains as well as a network of walking and running trails .
A highlight of the park will be a statue of Dr . Mary McLeod Bethune , which will be an original bronze work created by the same artist making the marble statue of the famed Daytona Beach educator to be displayed in the U . S . Capitol in Washington D . C .
Bob Lloyd , executive vice president and general counsel at Brown & Brown and a
Bob Lloyd member of the group behind the Bethune statues , said the idea for the bronze piece in Riverfront Esplande Park came after plans were already in motion for the larger marble statue .
“ We thought it would be great if we could put it in Riverfront Esplanade Park facing west down Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard toward her beloved university ,” Lloyd said . “ We thought for the benefit of the community and our state wouldn ’ t it be great to have a touchstone for those people who won ’ t be able to go to Washington to see the statue .”
Lloyd said the bronze statue will not only serve as a centerpiece of the park project , it also can be an educational element for the community .
“ To have that statue to tell the story to school children for the next several generations , to have that as part of our story in Daytona Beach is a huge opportunity to put that on the map ,” he said .
Lloyd believes the statue also highlights the contributions of Mary McLeod Bethune to the community and the nation .
“ I ’ m so proud of Daytona Beach and our heritage and this is another step in taking the lead and setting an example for our country ,” he said .
The redesigned park also includes dozens of mature live oaks , bald cypress and magnolia to provide shade under the canopy of the up to 30-foot-tall trees .
“ We are very mindful of creating a park that will roll with the natural environment ,” Marquis said .
One of the keys to the project is the private / public partnership created to ensure financing for the plan as well as the long-term maintenance of the park .
Brown and Brown Insurance ’ s new 11-story headquarters building will provide a strong financial anchor for the park
Riverfront Esplanade Park ’ s Board & Design / Construction Team . Photo credit Marquis Latimer + Halback .
Riverfront Park Esplanade under construction . Photo credit Aerial Innovations .
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