AFTER 9 YEARS AWAY FROM ORANGE PARK BECAUSE OF A MILITARY TRANSFER, WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO FLORIDA.  POSITIVES HAVE BEEN REUNITING WITH FAMILY, OUR NEW HOME, GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CLOSE FRIENDS.  NOT MUCH ELSE HAS BEEN NOTEWORTHY.  

 CONCERNING ROADS AND THE LACK OF IMPROVEMENTS TO BADLY NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE,  IT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS THE COUNTY LEADERS HAVE NEGLECTED A PROBLEM THAT WAS PRESENT WHEN WE LEFT IN 1997.  AFTER DRIVING AROUND ORANGE PARK THE PAST YEAR, VERY LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO EASE THE CONGESTION IN CLAY COUNTY DESPITE THE ENORMOUS GROWTH.  THE SNAPSHOT FOR US WAS THE BLANDING BLVD/WELLS ROAD INTERSECTION.  TIME HAS STOOD STILL AT THAT PART OF ORANGE PARK, YET TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED TENFOLD WITH NO PROVISIONS FOR EASE THE FLOW.  OTHER NEGLECTED AREAS INCLUDE HWY 220 FROM COLLEGE BLVD....A POTHOLED, BADLY PATCHED STRETCH OF ROAD THAT EXPERIENCES A HUGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC.  HWY 17 THROUGH ORANGE PARK TO THE BASE,  AND NOW BRANNAN FIELD ROAD.  I HAD TO LAUGH AT RECENT "IMPROVEMENTS" THERE...A COUPLE OF TURNING LANES TO DIRT ROADS, AND ONE TURNING LANE THAT FUNNELS TRAFFIC INTO THE WOODS.  AMAZING....

COUNTY PLANNERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND "VISIONARIES" NEED TO GET OUT AND DRIVE AROUND THIS CITY AT PEAK TIMES TO EXPERIENCE WHAT MANY OF US DEAL WITH EVERYDAY.  POOR INFRASTRUCTURE HAS STIFLED PROGRESS.  IT'S EVERYWHERE IN ORANGE PARK.  AND THE BIG ISSUE THIS WEEK IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS A POKER ROOM AT THE KENNEL CLUB?