For the second time in as many weeks, city officials wielded oversized golden scissors, and a blue ribbon fluttered to the ground Dec. 5 as Riverfront Plaza became the latest riverfront park to open to the public formally.
The park’s soft opening was on Nov. 29 for the annual Light Boat Parade and City tree lighting, which drew 33,000 people to the riverfront, according to Daryl Joseph, the City’s director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. At the Dec. 5 ribbon cutting, the park’s elevated playground was opened for the first time.
Before the ribbon cutting, Mayor Donna Deegan took the podium to highlight the role public parks play in ensuring Jacksonville’s affordability and quality of life for families.
“Our downtown park system is providing plenty of free, family fun … we’ll continue to program and activate these parks so residents can enjoy the St. Johns River without making a dent in their already stretched pocketbooks,” said Deegan.
Lori Boyer, the recently retired CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority, credited Deegan’s administration and former Mayor Lenny Curry for making Riverfront Plaza a priority.
In his remarks, At-Large Group 4 City Councilman Matt Carlucci stated that, along with Shipyards West and Metropolitan Park, Riverfront Plaza would eventually form one of America’s preeminent networks of downtown riverfront parks. He also expressed his hope that Jacksonville would soon shed for good its past reputation as a city of renderings.
“Those renderings are a reality,” said Carlucci.
Riverfront Plaza has been a long time coming, with plans in the works ever since the Jacksonville Landing was torn down in 2019. After a period as an empty grassy lot, construction began on the new park in July 2023.
Riverfront Plaza’s ribbon cutting was preceded the previous week by RiversEdge Park on the Southbank, which Joseph said has already been utilized by 20,000 people. Joseph also touted the 600,000 people who visited Friendship Fountain in the first year since it was revamped.
The Dec. 5 ceremony marked the completion of the first phase of construction. Phase 2 will include a beer garden, rain garden, fountain, and a bike and pedestrian connection to the Main Street Bridge. The second phase is expected to break ground in early 2026 and be completed in 2027.
