Jacksonville debuts first phase of Riverfront Plaza

Government

With the cutting of a 6-foot ribbon unfurled amid several acres of Downtown green space, Jacksonville opened its new Riverfront Plaza park on Dec. 5.

The opening event marked the completion of the first phase of development of Riverfront Plaza on the former site of the Jacksonville Landing. The initial phase of the 6-acre park includes a playground on top of a pavilion building, an event lawn, improved Riverwalk, plaza space connecting to the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts and, temporarily, a Christmas tree.

“This park is more than just a green space. It is another bold step forward in reclaiming our riverfront at the heart of our city,” Mayor Donna Deegan said at the ceremony. “Our vision for a continuous, activated and people centered riverfront is becoming a reality.”

The second phase of construction is underway for the east end of the park. That phase will include a rain garden, water feature, civic stairs, a beer garden and a pedestrian ramp to the Main Street Bridge.

Riverfront Plaza park is near VyStar Tower, center, in Downtown Jacksonville along the St. Johns River.

The second phase is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, said Daryl Joseph, Jacksonville’s director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

The first phase of the project cost $38 million, while the city lists the cost of the second phase at $40 million. Perkins & Will Inc. was the architect and Jacksonville-based Haskell is the construction contractor for both phases.

The entrance to Riverfront Plaza in Downtown Jacksonville near Hogan Street and Independent Drive.

Riverfront Plaza was the second park site to officially open in the last two weeks. The four RiverEdge parks opened on Nov. 24 on the former site of the JEA Southside Generating Plant on Downtown’s Southbank.

The city is also planning on developing two more parks Downtown. Design work is underway on Shipyards West between Catherine Street and Hogans Creek, and renovations to Metropolitan Park near the WJCT Public Media building. Both parks are along Bay Street on the Northbank.

“This is just the beginning,” City Council member Matt Carlucci said. “Together, (the Downtown parks) will form, in my opinion, the finest network of downtown riverfront parks in the entire country.”