The City of Jacksonville and Mayor Donna Deegan have announced the launch of “I Dig Jax,” a new campaign and website aimed at showcasing major downtown projects, including updates on Riverfront Plaza and the development of new riverfront parks.
“I Dig Jax tells that story, the story of both dirt turning on a range of projects, and people getting excited about their city as we continue to grow,” said Mayor Deegan during the announcement at the Riverfront Plaza job site.
Riverfront Plaza Development
Phase 1 of Riverfront Plaza is now under construction and is expected to be completed by late 2025. Plans for the site include:
- An elevated destination playground on top of a park pavilion
- A large flexible event lawn
- A new bulkhead, riverwalk, and a plaza connecting to the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
- A pavilion building with a café space, restrooms, and storage facilities
Phase 2, set to begin in early 2026 and finish in 2027, will add:
- A beer garden
- A rain garden
- A bike and pedestrian connection to the Main Street Bridge
“Their design is now taking shape before our eyes with the park pavilion building, rooftop playground, large flex lawn, plaza connecting to the Performing Arts Center and the open view corridor down Laura Street to the river,” said Lori Boyer, CEO of Downtown Investment Authority.
Additional City Projects
Other ongoing infrastructure and park projects in Jacksonville include:
- Hogan Street Cycle Track
- A segment of the Emerald Trail
- Restoration of two-way streets on Adams and Forsyth Streets
- Park Street Road Diet
- McCoys Creek Outfall
- Music Heritage Garden at the Jacksonville Performing Arts Center
- New St. Johns River Park alongside Friendship Fountain
Friendship Fountain, which reopened a year ago, has already hosted more than 30 planned activations and welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors, according to Daryl Joseph, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.
Private Projects and Future Investments
Key private developments underway in Jacksonville’s Urban Core include:
- Relocated Museum of Science and History (MOSH) on the Northbank
- New Pearl Square District
- RiversEdge community on the Southbank
- University of Florida graduate campus in LaVilla
- NFL Jaguars Stadium of the Future and adjacent Four Seasons hotel
Design work is also progressing on Shipyards West Park and an updated Metropolitan Park along the Northbank.
“The $300 million Community Benefits Agreement that we negotiated as a part of the Stadium of the Future deal was the largest in NFL history, and it will make generational investments to ensure every one of our neighbors has the opportunity to thrive,” said Mayor Deegan. “It will also fund the completion of our world-class riverfront park system.”
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.