JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville celebrated the completion of the first link of the Emerald Trail on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was years in the making.
The LaVilla Link connects Brooklyn to LaVilla and the S-Rail Link. It also stretches out to Myrtle Avenue.
This phase of the project, which cost $9 million, is a little more than one mile long and includes walking paths, bike paths, swings, and an observation deck.
Photos: Renderings show how Emerald Trail will transform Hogan Street
The trail that opened Monday is one of nine that are going to be a part of the big Emerald Trail project that the Jacksonville City Council approved five years ago.
It will be 30 miles long and connect 14 different neighborhoods, 16 schools, two colleges, and 21 different parks throughout Jacksonville’s urban core.
The Emerald Trail is the result of the work of three Jacksonville mayor administrations starting with Alvin Brown, Lenny Curry, and now Donna Deegan.
“Picture a stunning green belt that features native plants, living shorelines and gardens, not to mention public art installation which celebrates each neighborhood’s culture,” Deegan said.
The first stretch of the trail has been painted green, coinciding with the color of the Gemstone project is named after.
“Now, because of the LaVilla Link, people are living, working, and learning in an area that will have access to safe and welcoming space to move and connect throughout our community, and it also allows healthy choices,” Dr. Michael Mayo, CEO of Baptist Health, said.
Money for the project comes from a one-time federal grant of $147 million, which is the most the city has ever received for a one-time grant.
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The city hopes the trails will trigger economic growth, revamp the urban core, attract more people to downtown and create 1,500 new jobs.
“The Emerald Trail will be a shining jewel for this city, and it represents so much of what my administration is about, economic development, strengthening community ties, health, resilience, infrastructure, through the trials we are taking a big step forward in these areas,” Deegan said.
The city is working with a nonprofit called Groundwork Jacksonville to get the project done, and the lead investor is Baptist Health.
City leaders said they aren’t only building a trail, they are instead building community.
“A place that all businesses will strive based on trail users but more importantly we want our urban neighborhoods along the trail to be considered vital desirable places, to live, work and visit,” Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, said.
The immediate communities that will have access to the trail when it’s complete include McCoy’s Creek, Woodstock, Durkeeville, College Gardens, New Town, Phoenix and Springfield.
Local gas tax dollars are also helping fund the project providing roughly $36 million.
City Council President Ron Salem said he’s hoping the project will be complete by 2030.
Beyond the LaVilla Link that opened on Monday, other parts of the Emerald Trail that are on the way over the next several years include a cycle track on Hogan Street, an Artist Walk, and a trail from Hogans Creek to the Riverwalk.