Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
First Coast Connect: A Bad Time for ‘America’s Best Idea’ 08/24/26
news.wjct.org/show/first-coast-connect/2026-08-21/on-mondays-show-a-bad-time-for-americas-best-idea
National Parks Week arrives amid growing concern over the future of funding and land use plans, following deep cuts, staff reductions and unprecedented incursions into public lands. From the recent removal of educational markers in the Carolinas to bulldozers in Big Bend, the changes are prompting a “day of action” on Aug. 25, in which the National Parks Conservation Association asks the public to sign a petition urging President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to protect parks and their employees. We talk with two park experts who advocate for protecting nature from ourselves.
Guests:
Mark Woods, columnist, The Florida Times-Union, author, Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Park
Vanessa Trujillo, senior conservation program manager, National Parks Conservation Association
Flow state
From the Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks to Riverfront Plaza and the new RiversEdge park, the city has a lot of waterfront parkland. We explore how the newly formed Jax Riverfront Alliance plans to create a unifying vision for all that real estate, and why the city chose a public/private model to accomplish that goal. We also ask the interim director what groundwork she’s laying for a permanent hire, and what foundation is already in place to build on.
Guest: Linzee Ott, interim director, Jax Riverfront Alliance
Topics and guests subject to change.
First Coast Connect: A Bad Time for ‘America’s Best Idea’ 08/24/26
news.wjct.org/show/first-coast-connect/2026-08-21/on-mondays-show-a-bad-time-for-americas-best-idea
National Parks Week arrives amid growing concern over the future of funding and land use plans, following deep cuts, staff reductions and unprecedented incursions into public lands. From the recent removal of educational markers in the Carolinas to bulldozers in Big Bend, the changes are prompting a “day of action” on Aug. 25, in which the National Parks Conservation Association asks the public to sign a petition urging President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to protect parks and their employees. We talk with two park experts who advocate for protecting nature from ourselves.
Guests:
Mark Woods, columnist, The Florida Times-Union, author, Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Park
Vanessa Trujillo, senior conservation program manager, National Parks Conservation Association
Flow state
From the Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks to Riverfront Plaza and the new RiversEdge park, the city has a lot of waterfront parkland. We explore how the newly formed Jax Riverfront Alliance plans to create a unifying vision for all that real estate, and why the city chose a public/private model to accomplish that goal. We also ask the interim director what groundwork she’s laying for a permanent hire, and what foundation is already in place to build on.
Guest: Linzee Ott, interim director, Jax Riverfront Alliance
Topics and guests subject to change.
