Duval Times

The City of Jacksonville has announced updates on several downtown projects as part of its new "I Dig Jax" campaign. The announcement was made by Mayor Donna Deegan and other city leaders at the Riverfront Plaza job site. Phase 1 of the Riverfront Plaza, currently under construction, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The development will include a playground, event lawn, riverwalk, and plaza space connecting to the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

Phase 2 is set to begin in early 2026 and finish in 2027. It will feature a beer garden, rain garden, and connections for cyclists and pedestrians to the Main Street Bridge. Lori Boyer, CEO of Downtown Investment Authority, expressed excitement about seeing Perkins and Will's design come to life with various features like a pavilion building and rooftop playground.

Other city projects include the Hogan Street Cycle Track, Emerald Trail segment, restoration of two-way streets along Adams and Forsyth Streets, Park Street Road Diet, McCoys Creek Outfall, Music Heritage Garden at the Jacksonville Performing Arts Center, and St. Johns River Park near Friendship Fountain.

Daryl Joseph from Parks, Recreation and Community Services highlighted that Friendship Fountain has hosted over 30 events since reopening last year and welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors. He also mentioned the success of a new skate park under Fuller Warren Bridge.

Private developments in Jacksonville's Urban Core include relocating the Museum of Science and History to Northbank, developing Pearl Square District and RiversEdge community on Southbank, planning a University of Florida graduate campus in LaVilla, constructing an NFL Jaguars Stadium of the Future with an adjacent Four Seasons hotel.

Design work is ongoing for Shipyards West Park and an updated Metropolitan Park along Northbank. Mayor Deegan emphasized that a $300 million Community Benefits Agreement linked to the stadium project will fund riverfront park systems similar to those that revitalized Tampa’s downtown.

For further details on these initiatives visit www.idigjax.com.