ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The town of Orange Park is preparing for its biggest public works project yet—a massive drainage overhaul aimed at mitigating future flooding issues.
Flooding has long been a concern for residents, particularly in areas around small waterways like Johnson Slough. During heavy rain events, these waterways often struggle to handle the volume of water, and the town is ready to move forward with a solution.
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Officials say the project has been in the works for a long time and is necessary to prevent flooding damage seen during severe storms like Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Improving drainage, raising roads
The project, now in the design phase, includes plans to widen pipes, improve stormwater flow, and raise roadways. Interim Town Manager William Whitson explained that this project has been a long time coming.
“This is a longtime project for the town,” Whitson said. “It started with the tremendous flooding that occurred during Irma, and it’s taken years to properly plan for it and secure funding.”
Whitson adds that most of the funding has come from federal and state grants, which allows for construction to begin sooner rather than later.
Public Works Director Kyle Croce emphasized that engineers are working carefully to ensure the changes don’t negatively affect residents.
“They’re in the design phases right now,” Croce said. “They’ll come up with a plan to allow for more stormwater, more flow, and resilience against tidal influence, while also elevating the roadways.”
Resident concerns
Some residents worry the improvements may have unintended consequences. Former Clay County Commissioner George Bush, who lives in the area, expressed concerns about potential flooding caused by rising roads.
“They want to raise the road [about] 5 to 8 feet, which could cause potential flooding through the area,” Bush said. “Houses that have not flooded are potentially going to be flooded.”
Bush took News4JAX on a tour of the area, pointing out homes at lower elevations that could be affected. He noted that seasonal events, like nor’easters and full moons in August and September, compound the risk of flooding.
“We have the end of August and September,” Bush said. “All those nor’easters come in with the full moon, and of course, you get a hurricane on top of it. That’s what causes the big flooding problem.”
Town leaders acknowledge the concerns and are working with engineers to address them.
“Our intent is to not negatively affect the residents but to improve their quality of life,” Croce said.
Officials are encouraging residents with concerns to attend upcoming town council meetings or contact Town Hall directly.
If everything stays on schedule, the drainage project is expected to be completed by summer 2026.