The Rotary Club of Jacksonville-Oceanside is doing its part to promote world peace by installing several $4,000 decorated PVC pipes next to million-dollar homes in Atlantic Beach.
The slogan, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” written on three four-foot “Symbolic Peace Poles” in multiple languages most of us cannot read, somehow promotes “global harmony” as well as “commemorating peace building efforts.”
There’s no word on which historic peace building efforts at Russell Park, Neptune Beach Elementary, and Beaches Museum were important enough to spend $12,000 on vinyl PVC pipes as a permanent reminder.
Photo Credit: Jax Today||Jeff Michelman
According to WJCT’s online news outlet, Jacksonville Today, these peace pole “monuments” are easily recognized around the world as “symbols of hope and unity.”
The 250,000-plus Symbolic Peace Poles installed around the world and locally are compassionately reminding beachfront homeowners and elementary students – to resolve conflict with their mouths instead of their hands.
Even better, the peace poles create “relationships” with those living nearby because of their collective concern regarding world peace.
Jacksonville Today reported that each pole costs $4,000 and that the poles were bought using “a grant from District 6970 (Northeast Florida) and The Rotary Foundation. “Now, if you think $4,000 for a four-foot plastic PVC pipe is a little pricey, you’d be right.
WJCT’s article included a link to the Peace Pole Project’s online store. I kid you not – the online store is selling the poles for $300 a pop.
The most expensive PVC pipe I could find sold by major big box store is less than $80. Add another $5 for a topper and you’ve got an $85 DIY version.
Before we jump to any conclusions, we must remember to give The Rotary Club of Jacksonville-Oceanside some grace. Members are so focused on serving out their mission of helping wealthy coastal communities develop local leaders and eradicate polio, they simply do not have time to shop around.
If Atlantic Beach’s three new monuments don’t produce enough peacekeeping dialogue, perhaps someone else should negotiate the next invoice.
7 responses to “Atlantic Beach installing $4,000 peace pipes”
Thank you for highlighting the new Peace Pole in Russell Park. Way taller than I am, I saw it as a monument to common ground. Sitting there in the shade, with my feet on the new paver platform, I imagined my grandparents sharing the long bench with me. We would simultaneously read the same message, May Peace Prevail on Earth. Hope others will bring their families, neighbors, friends to visit. Thank you Oceanside Rotary. Bien Hecho. Well done, Ben fatto!
Thank you for stating your opinion.
So in your journalism and research for this article did you get bids on how much they would cost to install? When you went to the major big box store did you ask what else you might need for installation? Laughable journalism here.
Overall things must be good in the beaches considering this is the news that you are writing about, but glad you are in support of the overall Rotary project of Peace. Perhaps you should write an article on Service over self. It might give you new perspective and bring you a little peace.
Thank you for your opinion.
Dear Ms. Roberts,
As a member of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville–Oceanside for the past 12 years, I have tried to live by Rotary’s Four-Way Test in the things I think, say, and do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
These principles should not be unique to Rotary. They should certainly not be absent from journalism. Unfortunately, your recent article regarding the Rotary Peace Poles did not meet these standards.
First, the most basic fact was incorrect: they are Peace Poles, not “peace pipes.” The original source material you referenced identified them correctly. Referring to them instead as $4,000 “PVC pipes” diminishes both the intent and the truth of the project. It’s silly to even mention that they are also 8 feet tall, not 4 feet. Granted, that fact was also wrong in the Jax Today article that was exclusively referenced.
Second, Atlantic Beach did not install these poles — the Rotary Club did. No taxpayer dollars were used. The project was funded through our Rotary Club and a grant from The Rotary Foundation, supported by donations from Rotarians who contribute both locally and internationally to service initiatives.
A minimal amount of research would also have revealed the deeper significance of each location. The Atlantic Beach pole stands near the Rotary Skate Park. The Neptune Beach pole is located at the elementary school where our club helped fund and build the ADA-accessible playground and recently supported shade structure repairs. The Beaches Museum site reflects Rotary’s longstanding financial and volunteer support, including funding for interpretive signage throughout the park. These placements were thoughtful and intentional.
Additionally, the three poles are not all located in Atlantic Beach. There is one in each of the beach communities. Accuracy on this point is fundamental.
Finally, the claim that each “pipe” cost $4,000 is misleading. The $4,000 budget per site covered installation, pavers, concrete, benches, signage, landscaping, and inscriptions in eight languages. These are permanent installations intended to reflect a global message of peace — not hardware store purchases.
Our Rotary Club has served this community for decades, contributing financially and through hands-on service to every school and numerous nonprofits across the Beaches. That legacy deserves accuracy and fairness.
I would like to personally invite you to join us on March 3 at 7:30 a.m. at ABBQ, where retired journalist Mort Crim will speak about the role of journalism in fostering understanding and unity. His message may resonate.
Sincerely,
Chris Hoffman
Proud Rotarian
Executive Director, Beaches Museum
Mayor, Jacksonville Beach
Thank you for stating your opinion.
No opinion here, these are facts.