A “21st Century Pond” Still Months Away for Riverside Memorial Park
Residents will have to wait at least until next summer for visible work to begin on Riverside Memorial Park’s reimagined Duck Pond.
The Resident News reported on a community meeting this past February to discuss plans for enhancements and improvements for both the Duck Pond and the Willow Branch Creek in Willow Branch Park, two parks in the historic Riverside and Avondale communities. Both of these projects, as reported, have funding through the Capital Improvement Plan.
Two design concepts for the Duck Pond were presented during the meeting with Concept 2 as the selected proposal for the “21st century pond.” City of Jacksonville Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Service Daryl Joseph wrote said that this design features “an expanded footprint, combined lily and formal pond areas with a natural edge.”
While the pond will remain oval in shape, the upgraded design will feature a “reinterpretation of a pedestrian bridge,” he said.
GAI Consultants was the firm contracted by the city to complete the designs for the new duck pond.
Currently, engineering work at the pond is underway, with groundwater monitoring expected to begin this winter. Groundwater monitoring is the process by which the City can identify water flow and levels, which, in turn, will aid in designing “a more sustainable pond.” Aerators have been installed in the pond as well to address water management concerns while maintenance staff routinely cleans the sidewalks and clears away any debris from the pond and surrounding areas.
Once all the engineering plans are completed, Joseph said, work on the pond will begin. This is anticipated to start in summer or fall of 2024 and will take approximately six to nine months.
By Michele Leivas
Resident Community News
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