JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Those planning to go for a walk or even a run on the Northbank Riverwalk will need to find a different option after another section closed Monday.
The city said the closure is necessary as work continues on the downtown Jacksonville project to create a continuous riverwalk on the western end of the Northbank.
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So far, the Riverwalk has been closed from Pearl Street to Main Street. As of Monday, the riverwalk is also closed from Jackson Street to the Acosta Bridge. The latest closure will last until fall 2025 as crews work on the McCoy’s Creek Restoration Project.
The goal of the restoration project is to address flooding concerns by making a wider and deeper channel. A park system running alongside the creek will also be part of the Emerald Trail.
Corkscrew Park on the east side of the Acosta Bridge will remain open until the fall. You can get there by taking Pearl Street.
The park will close when phase four of the city project begins. That’s when crews will build a new bulkhead between the Acosta Bridge and West Coastline Drive in front of CSX. That project is expected to last from fall 2024 to fall 2025.
The first two phases of the riverwalk project already underway are Riverfront Plaza, formerly home to The Jacksonville Landing, and the area in front of the city’s performing arts center.
When completed, Riverfront Plaza will have green space, walkways, gardens and a cafe with a playground.
Construction on the eastern half of the plaza is expected to wrap up in 2027.
The performing arts center project involves the Jacksonville Musical Heritage Garden, which is a musical-themed garden space behind the performing arts center. It’s expected to be finished in fall 2025.
The combined projects will all be underway by fall 2024, which means the Northbank Riverwalk will be closed completed from fall 2024 to fall 2025.