ORANGE PARK – There was plenty of optimism the Gateway to Clay Initiative would make a difference along the Wells Road corridor when it was organized a year ago.

The results were more than optimistic, so state, county and local officials, along with residents who want to erase the crime and stain the main thoroughfare into the county, hit the streets to talk with business owners in the area.

They brought the following message: violent crime has dropped by 45% along Wells Road, while property crime has decreased by 10% in the past year. They also asked businesses to link their surveillance cameras with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office so the agency can get real-time information for a quicker response.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” said CCSO Asst. Chief of Patrol North Domenic Paniccia.

Twenty-five people, including Fla. Rep. Sam Garrison, county commissioner Jim Reninger, county manager Howard Wanamaker and Asst. Fire Rescue Chief David Motes, spent 90 minutes talking with residents and businesses on Friday, Nov. 4. Most said they’ve noticed results.

“We don’t let problems simmer,” Paniccia said. “We get right on them.”

Sheriff Michelle Cook said the program resulted in “zero” issues at the Orange Park Mall during a weeklong carnival and haunted house. A carnival was closed a day early after somebody fired shots near the carnival in 2021.

According to the sheriff’s office, Gateway to Clay was developed to address challenges in the Wells Road area, like the absence of public parks, vacant businesses, homelessness, traffic concerns like bike lanes, crosswalks and speed limit inconsistencies and median maintenance. If successful, it would increase public safety and marketing and communication between the community, business and law enforcement, while improving the quality of life and economic development.

In addition to the dramatic reduction of violent crime in the area, county officials have planted trees in the medians, attracted new business and created a partnership with Salzbaucher to create a homeless task force.

For more information about Gateway to Clay, visit https://bit.ly/3VYK2Yj or email clayinitiatives@claycountygov.com.

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