Instead of simply being a space people pass through, the goal is to turn the riverfront into a lively, year-round destination supported by events, arts and culture, and partnerships with private businesses.
City leaders emphasized that each park will have its own identity rather than following a single design template. Every location is being planned with unique features that give people different reasons to visit and spend time there.
Music Heritage Garden, located along the Northbank near the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, will celebrate the city’s rich musical legacy. Scheduled to open in March, it will feature interactive artwork, a Walk of Fame, a music-themed play area for kids, and an outdoor space for projected performances.
St. Johns River Park, which surrounds Friendship Fountain — already a major draw with hundreds of thousands of visitors — is expected to open in the spring. Its design focuses on the theme of exploring the river, honoring the Timucua people and incorporating a ship-style playground inspired by explorer Jean Ribault. The park will also include spaces for weddings, picnics, and gardens, although restroom pavilions are still to be completed.
Shipyards West Park will connect to the riverwalk and offer a large event lawn, pavilion, exhibit space, beach area, pier, a permanent home for the USS Orleck, and a firefighters museum. Backed in part by funding tied to the Jaguars’ community benefits agreement, the 10-acre park is expected to open by late 2027.
Plans for Metropolitan Park focus on preserving as many existing trees as possible while creating a venue capable of hosting large festivals and concerts. The design blends open performance and tailgating spaces with natural features along the river’s edge. This project is also targeting a late-2027 opening.
At Riverfront Plaza, the first phase opened near the end of 2025. The city is now looking for a restaurant operator and hopes to add a café later this year. Construction on the second phase — which will bring a beer garden, rain garden, and a pedestrian and bike connection to the Main Street Bridge — is set to begin this year, with completion planned for early 2028.
Information from: https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2026/02/13/city-riverfront-parks-update.html
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