JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s downtown revitalization project is one step closer to completion.
The first phase of the Emerald Trail will soon be open, and the city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in a little over a week.
The LaVilla Link is the first portion of the Emerald Trail and it’s 1.3 miles long.
The trail connects Brooklyn to LaVilla and the S-Line Rail Link and starts along Myrtle Avenue.
It’s going to feature pedestrian bike paths, swings, and an observation deck. The LaVilla Link Trail cost almost $9 million.
It’s 30 miles of trails long and includes greenways and parks to connect 14 historic neighborhoods to downtown.
The neighborhoods include the St. Johns River, McCoy’s Creek, and Hogans Creek.
This project is part of a partnership between the City of Jacksonville and a nonprofit called Groundwork Jacksonville.
The City Council approved the project in March 2019, but it not expected to be fully complete until 2030.
Jacksonville received $147 million in federal funding from the Department of Transportation to complete the project, making it the largest one-time grant in the city’s history.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of the LaVilla Link is set to begin at 10 a.m. on May 6.