City and private leaders tossed emerald-tinted sand onto a Downtown sidewalk Sept. 25, marking the groundbreaking of the Hogan Street Link section of the Emerald Trail.
The Hogan Street Link, scheduled for full completion by early 2027, stretches north on Hogan Street from Riverfront Plaza to Union Street. A segment of the trail closest to the St. Johns River is set for completion by the summer of 2026.
The Emerald Trail, which is under development by nonprofit Groundwork Jacksonville, is designed to make Hogan Street more pedestrian-friendly.
Hogan Street will be narrowed to one lane of northbound traffic along with a two-way bicycle lane.
The groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction of the first phase of the trail’s development along Hogan Street. The second phase, which will extend into Springfield to Florida State College at Jacksonville, is awaiting funding.
“Sometimes it was scary, but we got to the finish line,” Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas said.
“Today is an important milestone in our continued momentum to complete this transformational project for our city.”
Baker Design Build led design and construction on a team with transportation engineering firm Peters and Yaffee Inc., mechanical engineering firm Haddad Engineering Inc. and land surveying firm Smith Survey Group. Scape Landscape Architecture provided design guidelines.
The Emerald Trail has opened similar portions in LaVilla and San Marco. Along with the Hogan Street Link, a portion along McCoys Creek near Lackawanna is also under construction.
The Emerald Trail is designed as a 30-mile route connecting 14 neighborhoods to Downtown, the St. Johns River, McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek. Along the route are 16 schools, two colleges and 21 parks.
“Cars have been dominant for so long in America,” Ehas said. “This trail project is trying to level the playing field for other modes of transportation like walking and biking.”
Federal grant loss slows but doesn’t stop process
In July, a $147 million grant that had been issued for the Emerald Trail under Joe Biden’s presidential administration was voided when President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
At the groundbreaking, Mayor Donna Deegan and Ehas said work wouldn’t stop without the federal money. Groundwork Jacksonville may have to lean more on private donations while the city continues to apply for grants.
“None of this is slowing down because of this grant. We’re going to continue to move forward,” Deegan said. “We are working diligently with the federal government right now to figure out how to put that money back, whether it’s piece by piece or all at once. We are absolutely committed to getting more federal funding.”
The Hogan Street Link received both city and private funding. VyStar Credit Union, which owns the VyStar Tower on Laura Street, sponsored the Hogan Street Link development.
“Our headquarters is just steps away from this new segment, and we see this as a defining part of the urban core,” VyStar CEO Brian Wolfburg said at the groundbreaking.
“The trail is more than just a path. It’s a symbol of revitalization and of connectivity in our city, our support is part of a larger commitment to downtown Jacksonville.”