JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Large vacant department stores in Jacksonville are attracting indoor adventure parks.
Westland Park Plaza in Southwest Jacksonville and Southside Commons in Arlington are among the latest strip shopping centers that have large spaces vacated by big-box retailers and now planned for family fun and games.
Recommended Videos
Lululand in Westland Park Plaza
In Westland Park Plaza, the city issued a permit March 12 for Lululand Adventure Park.
The space is at 6000 Lake Gray Blvd., Unit 35, in the shopping center at northwest Interstate 295 and Blanding Boulevard. The center was built in 1989.
Lululand shows on its website that it has two activity centers in Virginia and seven coming soon to Jacksonville as well as to Iowa, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and three more in Virginia.
It calls itself a one-stop shop for family entertainment, offering trampoline courts.
Plans for the Jacksonville location indicate features such as a basketball court, battle beams, dodgeball, playground, rock wall, soccer court and toddler zone. It offers birthday parties and says all ages are welcome.
Plans show structural work including setting up seven party rooms, replacing the restroom floor and wall tile, and repainting, as well as electrical and plumbing work.
The space also is referred to as Building 7.
NRG Adventure Park in Southside Commons
NRG Adventure Park appears to be moving into Southside Commons at Southside Connector and Tredinick Parkway in Arlington, north of Regency Square Mall.
The flyer for Southside Commons, which is owned by Jacksonville-based Sleiman Enterprises, shows NRG Adventure Park in the closed 80,000-square-foot Bealls store at 860 Commerce Center Drive.
A sign in the window also shows NRG is coming soon.
The playnrg.com site says of the center:
“Prepare to stimulate your senses, and create electric memories at NRG Adventure Park. The ULTIMATE destination where families and friends ignite their eNeRGy in an EXTREME way. Our indoor playground takes fun to the next level.”
It says each adventure park includes activities for groups of all ages. It offers birthday parties, as well.
It calls itself more than “just a trampoline park,” rather an “epic trampoline playground” with features such as a ball pit, basketball, dodgeball, foam pit, harnessed climbing, jousting pit, ropes court, toddler zone and zip line.