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City progress now accessible online via ‘I DIG JAX’

As more and more cranes join the Jacksonville skyline and more construction gets underway, the City of Jacksonville has launched a new campaign to keep residents informed on the progress of several major downtown city projects.

Mayor Donna Deegan announced the “I Dig Jax” campaign at a press conference at the Riverfront Plaza job site on Monday, Feb. 10.

“I Dig Jax tells that story, the story of both dirt turning on a range of projects, and people getting excited about their city as we continue to grow,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “I’m very glad to be able to share these updates and to proudly proclaim that I Dig Jax.”

District 7 City Councilmember Jimmy Peluso, Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer and City of Jacksonville Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Daryl Joseph were among the officials joining Deegan at the construction site, where phase one work is currently underway.

Joseph praised Deegan’s commitment to community engagement for public projects like Riverfront Plaza and underscored the need for continued engagement on this and future projects.

“I want to make sure that this park is a park for everyone so making sure as we continue not just with this par but with all of our park spaces that we reach out to the community to make sure that we’re designing parks that aren’t cookie cutter and that we have something for everyone,” Joseph said.

In his remarks, Peluso spoke of Downtown Jacksonville’s importance and the impact it has beyond its boundaries.

“The surrounding neighborhoods that I represent wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for our Downtown and this entire city wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our Downtown,” Peluso said. “For us to want to be that great city in the 21st century that brings in young talent, we have to invest in our urban core, we have to invest in our Downtown.”

Phase One work for Riverfront Plaza is expected to be completed later this year. Once completed, the plaza will offer a new pavilion building featuring a small café space, public restrooms and necessary support features for the park (mechanical rooms and storage space) as well as an elevated, destination playground, riverwalk, and a plaza space linking to the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

A beer garden, rain garden and bike and pedestrian connections to the Main Street Bridge will all be included in the second phase of construction, slated for a start date early next year through 2027.

The I Dig Jax campaign includes a dedicated website (www.idigjax.com) sharing overviews, renderings and anticipated timelines for various city projects, including the Park Street road diet, McCoys Creek outfall, the Music Heritage Garden, St. Johns River Park and Friendship Fountain, Shipyards West, Metropolitan Park, the Hogan Street cycle track, and the first phases of work for the Adams and Forsyth two-way conversion and RiversEdge parks and boardwalk.

Deegan said the City’s $300 million Community Benefits Agreement, negotiated as part of the Stadium of the Future deal will provide the necessary funding to complete Jacksonville’s “world-class riverfront park system.”

“This kind of system was the spark that made Tampa’s downtown ignite, and it will do the same for Jacksonville,” Deegan said.