Sights and Scenes: RiversEdge Parks

[thelakelander]

Sights and scenes from the November 24, 2025 ribbon cutting at RiversEdge Parks. Considered to be an extension of the Southbank Riverwalk, this chain of new parks is located on the site of the former JEA Southside Generating Station.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/sights-and-scenes-riversedge-parks/

[jaxlongtimer]

Looks nice!  I clicked on the park's website link... looking for a map of the park's layout and a key to its amenities... and found none.  Would be nice to see the layout to better plan a visit.  And, where is the parking for it?

[thelakelander]

^You can park on the street. There's diagonal and parallel parking all over the RiversEdge site.

[Tacachale]

Not everything is built out yet, but there's a map with the general idea here. I doubt we'll do a more comprehensive map yet as more will be added over time, and the wider space will change as construction happens on the development pads. I'll see about putting up maybe a general map without the specific details as what's completed is really cool and already getting a ton of use.

https://dtjax.com/poi/riversedge-parks/

[Papa33]

Was it all private developer money that funded this park?

[thelakelander]

Public for the most part, I believe. My memory is fuzzy since this has taken nearly 20 years to materialize but RiversEdge had a hefty incentives package if I recall.

[Tacachale]

Public and private, with a big REV grant package (IE, a grant funded out of a refund of the new tax revenue generated by the new development). Not the package we would have negotiated, but it got it to the starting line after years of delays and inertia.

[Zac T]

Not everything is built out yet, but there's a map with the general idea here. I doubt we'll do a more comprehensive map yet as more will be added over time, and the wider space will change as construction happens on the development pads. I'll see about putting up maybe a general map without the specific details as what's completed is really cool and already getting a ton of use.

https://dtjax.com/poi/riversedge-parks/

Taca, is the riverwalk in RiversEdge is considered an extension of the Southbank Riverwalk or is it a separate "park"? Went to check it out tonight with some family and we along with a few other families were kicked out by the private security who said the "park" was closed at 10pm. We were still along the riverwalk which I am unclear on if it is considered a part of one of the parks. It was definitely not a great first impression for us

On the jaxparks website, the Southbank Riverwalk is advertised as 24/7 so again, not sure if the RiversEdge part is separate. Also, as the area develops with more residents and visitors, are we seriously going to try and kick everybody out after 10pm? Is this a temporary measure while construction is underway? It definitely does not seem feasible long term

[fsu813]

Public and private, with a big REV grant package (IE, a grant funded out of a refund of the new tax revenue generated by the new development). Not the package we would have negotiated, but it got it to the starting line after years of delays and inertia.

The parks were completed first, and not some years down the line with the rest of Riversedge, due to grassroots advocacy to the DIA. The DIA listened and made it a requirement. Thank goodness.

[Papa33]

Not everything is built out yet, but there's a map with the general idea here. I doubt we'll do a more comprehensive map yet as more will be added over time, and the wider space will change as construction happens on the development pads. I'll see about putting up maybe a general map without the specific details as what's completed is really cool and already getting a ton of use.

https://dtjax.com/poi/riversedge-parks/

Taca, is the riverwalk in RiversEdge is considered an extension of the Southbank Riverwalk or is it a separate "park"? Went to check it out tonight with some family and we along with a few other families were kicked out by the private security who said the "park" was closed at 10pm. We were still along the riverwalk which I am unclear on if it is considered a part of one of the parks. It was definitely not a great first impression for us

On the jaxparks website, the Southbank Riverwalk is advertised as 24/7 so again, not sure if the RiversEdge part is separate. Also, as the area develops with more residents and visitors, are we seriously going to try and kick everybody out after 10pm? Is this a temporary measure while construction is underway? It definitely does not seem feasible long term

Hoping this is a quick and easy fix once the right people are made aware.  Right now, I'm envisioning John Candy appearing out of nowhere: Sorry folks, the park's closed.  The manatee out front should have told you.

[Steve]

Those are some aggressive security folks, too, from my experience.

[Joey Mackey]

Playing around with the property map, I think the new riverwalk, along with the parks, are owned by the City of Jacksonville (public land), so the security guard should not be able to kick you out claiming it is private property. Same goes for the roads. I am not sure if there are some other agreements in place though.

[Ken_FSU]

Was it all private developer money that funded this park?

Even more specifically, infrastructure funding was split into two parts:

Bucket #1 Roads & Utilities:

Paid for upfront by the private developers. They set up a Community Development District (CDD) for The District/RiversEdge, which allowed them to issue 30-year municipal bonds. Bond proceeds were then used to pay for $30 million in road & utility work upfront, under the belief that the developer would repay those bonds through fee assessments on businesses and residents that built out at RiversEdge. The clock has been ticking on repayment since infrastructure work began, which is why I'm a little surprised that nothing seems to be remotely close to coming out of the ground yet, aside from the Townhomes.

Bucket #2 Parks + Riverwalk/Bulkhead

Paid for the city, or more specifically, the Southbank CRA (not the general fund). I can't remember the exact total, but I think it's in the ballpark of $25-$30 million.

On top of that, the project is eligible for a REV grant of nearly $100 million (non-cash, just tax forgiveness).

[Steve]

Checked this out tonight-overall REALLY well done and one of the best stretches of the riverwalk. The playgrounds and park space next to it is really nice.

Assuming the restaurant space is actually built out, this will be great.

They also allowed parking on some of the streets. Not sure if that was just for tonight and they gave the Gestapo that the developers hired the night off, or if this is now parking for the park.

[Steve]

One update-curious who is responsible for the maintenance of the boardwalk section in particular. I like the wood. But I seem to remember that we built a riverwalk with wood at some point, then we had to pay Pappas's firm a lot of money to study the effects of water on rotting wood.