Victor Dover to Speak at 2026 Great Cities Symposium

Scenic Jacksonville will kick off the new year by welcoming Victor Dover as the speaker for the sixth annual Great Cities Symposium.

Dover, a nationally recognized leader in street, city and neighborhood design, is principal-in-charge and co-founder of Dover, Kohl and Partners. Scenic Jacksonville Executive Director Nancy Powell said she looks forward to hearing his insight on New Urbanism. This movement focuses on creating walkable, sustainable communities with mixed land uses, pedestrian-friendly designs, and transit-oriented development.

“He’s kind of an expert in these things, and that’s what we’re interested in hearing about – his experiences,” said Powell. “He works all over the country. He is based in Florida, but has done neighborhood and town plannings all over the country.”

This annual speaker program has hosted speakers from across the country, most recently the Bloomberg Fellow and former CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership, Carol Colleta. In previous years, Scenic Jacksonville has hosted former Procter and Gamble CEO AG Lafley and former mayors Bob Buckhorn (Tampa), Ron Littlefield (Chattanooga) and Joe Riley (Charleston). Powell said the insight and inspiration attendees have gleaned from these speakers has had a significant influence on the evolution of Jacksonville’s green spaces.

“I think that what you’re seeing on the riverfront today is part of what some of our previous speakers have focused on,” Powell said. “Bob Buckhorn was a very popular speaker in 2022 and Mayor Deegan came to that as a candidate and she, I think, embraced a lot of what Mayor Buckhorn was talking about as far as their riverwalk and their riverfront and how it’s really brought people downtown.”

In addition to the Great Cities Symposium, Scenic Jacksonville has also launched Scenic Visions, which last year focused on Mayport Village. Powell said the organization created Scenic Visions as a complement to the symposium, with a focus on the neighborhood level rather than the symposium’s big-picture vision.

“We really have enjoyed having these two programs in the community that are adding value to the conversation of how Jacksonville can grow in the best way,” she said.

The 2026 Great Cities Symposium is presented by Gateway Jax. It will be held at the Garden Club of Jacksonville on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.