Waterfront parks: 5 models for Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

As Jacksonville continues working toward iconic park space on our Downtown riverfront, here's a look at five excellent examples from across the country that can serve as inspiration.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/waterfront-parks-5-models-for-jacksonville/[/img]

[Snaketoz]

Thank you.  I really like that Warf project in D.C.

[fsu813]

You may find some familiar names/faces in this Riverfront Parks Now piece (hint hint)....

https://youtu.be/oDfh4EExxlM

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Great video and I fully support this initiative.  Jax has the rare opportunity to preserve for future generations an extensive downtown waterfront.  I regret how much land we have already sacrificed on the altar of development and hope no further land is so disposed of. 

As we look at the various examples covered, it's clear, once again, that Jax's lack of vision, planning, good execution and backbone continue to keep us behind.  When it comes to green spaces, I still worry we will fall far short of what we should be doing, even with the advocacy of Riverfront Parks Now.  Only because I think our elected officials and authorities are either tone deaf to such moves and/or incompetent to carry them out properly.  Hope I am wrong.

[Charles Hunter]

As the Mayor and Council races get going - Cumber and Daniels (and anti-Cumber) ads are already on TV - MetroJacksonville needs to develop a questionnaire covering our concerns for these 20 races. Ideally, someone could interview the candidates, which allows follow-ups, but at least mail the questions to them all.

[fsu813]

^ Great video and I fully support this initiative.  Jax has the rare opportunity to preserve for future generations an extensive downtown waterfront.  I regret how much land we have already sacrificed on the altar of development and hope no further land is so disposed of. 

As we look at the various examples covered, it's clear, once again, that Jax's lack of vision, planning, good execution and backbone continue to keep us behind.  When it comes to green spaces, I still worry we will fall far short of what we should be doing, even with the advocacy of Riverfront Parks Now.  Only because I think our elected officials and authorities are either tone deaf to such moves and/or incompetent to carry them out properly.  Hope I am wrong.

A few thoughts on your comments...

> Jax has far more city controlled riverfront assets than Tampa did, and they knocked it out the park. I helped host Bob Buckhorn, the immediate past Mayor of Tampa, a few months ago at Jax event/fundraiser, where he spoke about using the riverfront as a catalyst for Downtown development/talent attraction. If Tampa can do it, Jax can certainly do it. Plenty of other peer examples too, as have been highlighted on The Jaxson.

> You are right to worry. City leadership were going to develop virtually all of the city owned riverfront land, until Riverfront Parks Now began advocating. And high quality riverfront destination parks and public spaces are still very much secondary to private development & budget, in some of the decision makers minds. So, even though there's significant fundung in the CIP and plans on paper, plans can (and have already) change, money can be shifted/disappear, and value engineering can kill.