The Jacksonville Riverwalks are located on the north and south banks of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The Riverwalk was originally a boardwalk on the south bank of the St. Johns River that opened Nov. 8, 1985. It was intended as a venue where tourists and local residents alike could view the beauty of the river and the skyline of the city. On a sunny day, the view from the walk epitomizes what Florida is all about--water, sunshine, shiny buildings, sailboats & speedboats. [1] Today, the riverwalks are among the most popular and well-used attractions in the downtown area.
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The 1.2-mile (1.9 km) walk was designed by Perkins & Perkins Architects to be a festive waterfront public space linking Friendship Fountain and Harbormasters Restaurant (now River City Brewing Co.) with hotels and office buildings east of the Main Street Bridge. The riverwalk was constructed, but never lived up to the expectations created by the project blueprints.
| 1985 Southbank Riverwalk Project | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Description | Status |
| St. Johns Wharf | Open-air marketplace built over the river adjacent to the Wyndham Hotel | A few shops were built along the riverwalk, but the wharf was never constructed |
| Graphic System | Banners, kiosks and signage to provide visitors with clear and legible information, as well as reinforce the warm and lively image of the riverwalk | Signs exist, one visitor kiosk was built |
| Open Air Pavilions | Four were planned and projected to include concessions and restroom facilities | Two were constructed. |
| The Grove | Raised grass seating area shaded by a grove of palm trees | Never built |
| The Pyramid | An outdoor structure with terraced seating area for special events | Never built. The Navy Memorial is located on the projected site |
| Aquarium | Located south of the maritime museum, plans called for an aquarium facing Friendship Fountain, which would showcase local freshwater and saltwater marine life | Never built |
| Friendship Park River Fountain | A geyser shooting water 500 ft (150 m) into the sky, located in the river; expected to become one of the most notable landmarks in the city | Built in 1965 |
| Great Lawn | Open space for recreation and relaxation and recreation | Never built |
| Under the Bridge Café | A Sidewalk Café that would link both sides of riverwalk | Never built |
| Ship Museum | An attraction to emphasize the historic relationship between the city and the river; projected to include floating ship exhibits | Scaled back to the current Jacksonville Maritime Museum, housed in a 5,000 sq ft (460 m2) kiosk |
| Amphitheater | A 3,000-seat open-air facility with bandstand and theatrical lighting, built out into the river that would be used for public concerts, ballets, festivals and school graduations | Never built |
| San Marco Blvd Sculpture | To be located in the middle of the traffic circle next to MOSH | Never built |
The center of the Northbank Riverwalk is the Landing. In 2002, the Jacksonville Track Club partnered with the city in commissioning The Runner, a statue of a sprinting man on the riverwalk. [2]
In January, 2005, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the opening of the latest extension of the Northbank Riverwalk. Construction took nearly two years for the 1.5-mile (2.4 km), $8.7 million project. The landscaped brick walkway connects the existing Riverwalk at the CSX building to Riverside Avenue. Its features include historical lighting, water fountains, trash receptacles, bike racks, irrigated landscaping and over 100 benches. [3]
The City of Jacksonville and Fidelity National Financial executed a land swap in 2008 that added 1.3 acres (5,300 m2) in exchange for the parcel of land under Riverside Avenue's historic fire station. The city has the option to move the structure before it can be demolished, and funding for that purpose is being discussed.[4]
At the January 31, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), plans were tentatively approved for a 128-slip dockage facility to be named, The South Shore Marina & Riverwalk at the Aetna Building. The project would include a new section of southbank riverwalk on the 13-acre (53,000 m2) Aetna Building property, which has 1,100 feet (340 m) of riverfrontage.[5] Permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Army Corps of Engineers had already been obtained, but financial conditions forced the project to be placed on hold.