JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Riverfront Plaza is already drawing crowds, and the city wants to make sure phase two lives up to the hype. Residents got the chance to weigh in on the next stage of the project at a community open house, sharing what they want to see when construction wraps up.
Phase 1 of the plaza is already open and getting heavy use — including this weekend, when the area is being used for the Ironman event. Phase 2 is currently under construction, with a targeted completion date at the end of 2027.
What phase 2 will include
Micah Lipscomb, the senior landscape architect for Perkins and Will, which is leading the design for Riverfront Plaza, outlined what’s planned for the next stage.
“Phase two will consist of a multi-use path that’ll connect up to the Main Street Bridge,” Lipscomb said. “It’ll have a retail space that a vendor will be selected for to serve the beer garden area. There’s going to be a swing deck with awesome views out towards the river.”
Daryl Joseph, the director of Parks for the city of Jacksonville, said phase two builds directly on what’s already there.
“Phase two of the park is really a connection from phase one of this park project,” Joseph said. “You’ll have trail components, you’ll actually have connections to the private development project and then extension of the river walk.”
Joseph said the additions are a direct response to what residents have been asking for.
“We’re actually building the amenities that citizens want to see,” he said. “I think it’s only going to get better as it relates to the use of the park.”
Residents speak up about what they need
Jasmine Turner, a professional historian and member of PlacemakingJax, attended the open house with her daughter. She said the park needs to work for families in a practical way — not just in concept.
“We really need bathrooms, more bathrooms on the women’s side, especially because usually teachers tend to be female, tend to bring the kids for field trips and if you have a large group of kids, you need many more bathrooms and shade,” Turner said.
Turner also pushed back on the perception that downtown Jacksonville is unsafe, pointing out that many residents are already comfortable visiting nearby attractions.
“Many of you were comfortable with going to MOSH. You’re comfortable with going to MOCA, comfortable going to Sweet Pete’s. Guess what — all of those places are downtown,” Turner said. “A part of it is just really working through that fear of downtown, and it helps if you go as a group.”
Her broader vision for the space reflects a community need.
“In order to have a Jacksonville that works for all citizens, but especially the next generation that’s growing up, we need to have spaces where families can really just enjoy themselves,” Turner said.
‘The donut is starting to fill in’
Stephen Wiley, a downtown resident who lives in the LaVilla neighborhood, has already visited Riverfront Plaza multiple times. He said the park signals a real shift in how people see the city’s core.
“I’ve heard Jacksonville being called the donut, where everything is built outside of it and the inside is empty,” Wiley said. “Well, that donut’s just starting to fill in.”
Wiley said he is especially excited about the entertainment and dining options planned for phase two.
“I like that it’s going to provide really entertainment for all ages — families, kids, adults,” he said. “Excited for what’s to come in terms of having a beer garden and having an adult beverage on the water, restaurants and things like that. I think it’s really going to activate this area and kind of bring back that feeling of when the Landing was here.”
For those still on the fence about visiting, Wiley had simple advice: just show up.
“You have to see for yourself,” he said. “Come take a look and get your own perspective of it. You’ll see that it’s going to be great.”
How to share your feedback
Residents who missed the open house can still share their input on phase two of Riverfront Plaza by contacting the City of Jacksonville Parks Department.