The City of Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority and Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, in collaboration with Build Up Downtown, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Riverfront Parks Now, will host a free community event called “Riverfront 2025: A Look Ahead” on February 8. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Jacksonville Main Public Library Multipurpose Room located at 303 North Laura Street in Downtown Jacksonville.
“Riverfront 2025: A Look Ahead” will provide an opportunity for citizens to learn about the current status of destination parks and projects slated for development on the Northbank and Southbank of Downtown, including Riverfront Plaza, Shipyards West, RiversEdge, Artist Walk and more. Following the presentation, attendees are encouraged to explore stations with information about other developments planned along the St. Johns River.
“Downtown Jacksonville is on the brink of creating a connected network of public spaces that will add to our region’s quality of life. Destination parks, public-private developments, and private developments all play a role in this effort,” said Daryl Joseph, Director of City of Jacksonville Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. “Together with our collaborators at the Downtown Investment Authority, Build Up Downtown, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Riverfront Parks Now, we look forward to sharing updates with our most important stakeholders: Jacksonville’s residents.”
Doors will open at 5 p.m.; a formal presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. Complimentary light bites and refreshments will be provided. Although this event is free, advance registration is encouraged. Walk-up admission will be available on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows. For those interested in the virtual option, advanced registration is required.
For more information and advanced registration, visit
https://riverfront2025.eventbrite.com.
About the Downtown Investment Authority: The Downtown Investment Authority is the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Economic Development arm of the City for Downtown Jacksonville. Guided by a nine-member board of directors, the DIA seeks to attract investment, facilitate job creation and increase residential density through capital investments, planning, marketing and public-private partnerships including the provision of incentives for the general community and Downtown stakeholders. For more information, visit https://dia.coj.net/ and https://investdtjax.com/.
About the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services: The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) serves diverse populations of all ages and abilities through recreation activities and programs, conservation and marine resources, sports and entertainment, senior services, social services, disabled services, and extension services serving approximately 900,000 residents in Duval County. PRCS offers over 400 parks and recreational spaces. For more information about The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, visit COJ.net/departments/parks-and-recreation.
About Build Up Downtown: Build Up Downtown facilitates and advocates for preservation, smart development and great public spaces in Downtown Jacksonville through communicating, connecting and informing current and future businesses and stakeholders. We envision a Downtown Jacksonville that we can all be proud to call our own. Thriving downtowns are the heartbeat of every major city around the world, and Jacksonville should be no different. Right now, Jacksonville is on the doorstep of a major change and Build Up Downtown was created to help facilitate that change. We serve as a privately funded, nonprofit resource and supporter of the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) and Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) to reinforce Downtown as the City’s unique epicenter for business, history, culture, education and entertainment. For more information, visit buildupdowntown.org.
About the Jessie Ball duPont Fund: The Jessie Ball duPont Fund is a private foundation that works to expand access to opportunity and create inclusive growth for the people, organizations and communities that Jessie Ball duPont knew and loved. We envision a world in which every member of those communities feels they belong, and is engaged in shaping the future of their community. We use our grantmaking, investments, research and partnerships to increase equitable access to opportunities and resources for members of society who have historically been excluded, and placemaking to build stronger communities where all voices are heard and valued. Learn more at www.dupontfund.org.
About Riverfront Parks Now: Riverfront Parks Now is a coalition of fourteen nonprofit organizations who have come together to advocate for and engage the community in creating “A Riverfront for All” to include an extensive network of world class public green spaces and active parks along the riverfront that prioritizes public access, improves health and quality of life, catalyzes surrounding development, and helps create a more resilient downtown. Riverfront Parks Now partnered with the duPont Fund’s Riverfront Activation Study to benchmark cities around the world whose investment in waterfront public spaces played a key role in their downtown revitalization. For more information, visit riverfrontparksnow.org.