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November 2026 Newsletter

Grand Opening of Hastings Community Center and Library Announced

The St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) are excited to announce the official grand opening of the new Hastings Community Center and Library on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to celebrate as a new chapter begins on Main Street in Hastings. Following the official dedication ceremony in the morning, the Community Center and Library will formally open their doors to the public for the first time.

State Road 207 Water Reclamation Facility Celebrated with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

St. Johns County officials joined project partners on October 15, 2026, to celebrate the State Road 207 Water Reclamation Facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility expands wastewater treatment and reclaimed water capacity while conserving drinking water supplies and protecting local waterways. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlighting the ceremony and this important project.

Located at 3055 State Road 207 in Elkton, the facility came online May 11, 2026. It has an initial treatment capacity of 3.25 million gallons per day, with the ability to expand to 6.5 million gallons per day to meet future community needs.

The facility treats wastewater and produces reclaimed water for irrigation, reducing demand on the Floridan Aquifer, the region’s primary source of drinking water. Over the next 20 years, the project is expected to prevent more than one million pounds of nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, from entering the Matanzas River.

CR 210 Road Widening Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

St. Johns County officials joined community members and project partners on Sept. 30 to celebrate the County Road 210 widening project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project widened approximately three miles of roadway from two lanes to four between Old CR 210/Greenbriar Road and Cimarrone Boulevard and added new bridges, sidewalks and traffic signals. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlight this important project.

The widened roadway connects to the existing four-lane section at Cimarrone Boulevard, providing additional travel lanes along a key transportation corridor in northwest St. Johns County. Sidewalks on both sides of the roadway improve pedestrian connectivity, while new traffic signals help motorists navigate intersections along the route.

Episode 4 of SJC Stewardship Series Features Beluthahatchee Park

Join Megan Wright, Environmental Specialist, in Episode 4 Part I and Episode 4 Part II of the SJC Stewardship Series to discover Beluthahatchee Park and the remarkable history of one of St. Johns County’s most culturally significant locations.

In this episode, discover the history of Beluthahatchee Park, its connection to author and human rights activist, Stetson Kennedy, and the ongoing restoration work supporting native plants and wildlife.

Follow and subscribe to the Official St. Johns County social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn) and explore the SJC Stewardship Playlist for prior episodes.

Commissioner

Christian Whitehurst

District 1 News

Commissioner

Sarah Arnold

District 2 News

Commissioner

Clay Murphy

Chair

District 3 News

Commissioner

Krista Joseph

District 4 News

Commissioner

Ann Taylor

Vice Chair

District 5 News

SJC Highlights Progress on Silverleaf Fire Station 22 and Sheriff’s Operations Center

Construction is progressing on Silverleaf Fire Station 22 and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center, a nearly 20,000-square-foot shared facility that will support emergency response in the north-central region of the county. The project remains on schedule, with construction completion targeted for late 2026 and final completion anticipated in early spring 2027. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video highlighting the project’s progress and features.

The facility will serve Silverleaf and surrounding communities along County Road 2209, County Road 210 and State Road 16, providing additional support to nearby fire stations. Its location will also offer access to the future First Coast Expressway, positioning first responders to serve additional areas of the county.

Main Branch Library Programs Coordinator Kathryn Rosenburg Selected for MIT’s PLIX Ambassador Program

Kathryn Rosenburg, Library Programs Coordinator at the Main Branch Library, has been chosen as one of 14 librarians in the country for MIT’s Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) Ambassador Program. Through the program, she will help expand innovative STEAM learning opportunities for the library system.

Rosenburg applied because she saw it as an opportunity to bring new and creative Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) learning activities to the community.

SJC GIS Staff Earn Two Awards for Innovative Bookmobile Mapping Project

St. Johns County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Division staff members Stacie Amolsch and Christine Kury were recognized with two major awards at the 2026 Central Florida GIS Workshop in Orlando for their innovative use of GIS technology to help expand access to library services.

Their map, titled “The Bookmobile: A Novel Solution,” earned both the 1st Place Popular Choice Award – Map Category and the Keynote Choice Award. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in cartographic design and innovative applications of geographic information systems.

Parks & Rec Hosting Third Annual Family Color Run 5K at SJC Fairgrounds

On Saturday, November 14, the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its third annual Family Color Run 5K at 9 a.m. at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, 5840 SR 207 E., Elkton.

Registration costs $25 per runner. Participation gets you a commemorative medal, professional timing services, and the color stations along the route.

Tess Simpson, SJC Parks & Rec Community Program Manager, and Marithza Ross, Executive Director for the SJC Parks Foundation, joined us on Behind the SJCenes to promote the 2026 Family Color Run 5K. Listen to the full episode.

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SJC Strategic Plan

Our Vision

St. Johns County is a historic community with a thriving population and economy, offering world-class cultural and recreational opportunities and an exceptional quality of life.

Our Mission

We serve and invest in our community through innovative leadership, high-quality services, and preserving the County’s history and natural beauty while enhancing economic vitality.

SJC Strategic Plan

Looking for ways to get involved? Service on Appointed Boards and Committees provides residents with an opportunity to help shape the future of St. Johns County by addressing the important issues that we face both now and for the future. Learn more and apply today!