Linda Schneader takes photos of her kids pumping water in the splash pad at the newly opened Riverfront Plaza. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
Published on December 5, 2025 at 4:33 pm
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Jacksonville officially opened the Riverfront Plaza park Friday, signifying the next chapter of the old Jacksonville Landing property.
With a recently trimmed Christmas tree on the plaza lawn, the Jacksonville mayor and other dignitaries heralded the Northbank’s brand new park at a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
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City Council member Matt Carlucci says this spot on the river has always been Jacksonville’s front door.
“Riverfront Plaza will be a place where people can work that are nearby, take their children to play, and take a quiet respite from their busy lives and they can celebrate together on the lawn. This is Jacksonville’s park,” Carlucci said.
The plaza project has been more than a year in the making.
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The completion of the $33 million first phase of the park features a large event lawn, a riverwalk and an elevated playground on top of a park pavilion building. At the opening Friday, kids were already trying out the apparatus, while parents like Linda Schneader supervised.
“I think it shows the city cares about families and they’re putting us first and instead of maybe building, I don’t know, a hotel or an apartment,” Schneader said. “They decided to do a public space with the emphasis on children and families. I mean, I am a mom of young kids and this is nice, and I still do remember what the Landing used to look like.”
Also in the playground area was Megan Jordan of Jacksonville Beach, who stood at the splash pad, watching her kids play in the puddles.
”It gets them thinking. Rather than just playing on all the slides, which are so cool — that slide is perfect for the littles. It doesn’t go fast; it looks kind of steep; but it’s awesome. We love it,” Jordan said.
She suggested the city now put one of these playgrounds on the other side of town where she’s from.
She predicts the park will bring her Downtown more.
“You could spend a lot of time out here. There’s a bunch of stuff nearby, too; San Marco, Avondale. You can get a bite to eat, all of that stuff. So it’ll be really fun. We’ll make a day out of it.”
The second phase of the park, to be constructed over the next two years, will include a beer garden and a bicycle and pedestrian connection to the Main Street Bridge, according to the city’s I DIG JAX website.
Riverfront Plaza’s promise
Before the ribbon cutting, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan told the several hundred people in the crowd that the city’s new parks bring economic development.
“They are worthy investments that strengthen our neighborhoods, support our local businesses, attract new opportunities, bring in tourists and certainly elevate our quality of life,” Deegan said. “An important part of having a high quality of life is making sure that Jacksonville remains affordable. Our Downtown riverfront park system is providing plenty of free family fun, and there’s something out here for everybody.”
