Visitors have carved their names into the 50-foot-high observation tower at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. The structure was last rebuilt in 2015 and offers a scenic view of the park. | Curan Ahern, WUFT News

A rendering shows the marina behind the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Like mutual aid for the surf set, the anonymously installed wax box has been a hit with Hanna Park regulars | Matt Shaw, Jacksonville Today

Stretching nearly three miles along both the Northbank and Southbank of the St. Johns River, Jacksonville's Riverwalks offer some of the city's most spectacular waterfront views.

The Jean Ribault-themed playground at Friendship Fountain | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

The new Riverfront Music Garden features walkways shaped like musical notes, plus a large clef-shaped central Riverwalk section. | City of Jacksonville

A Downtown Investment Authority committee voted 3-0 on Thursday to move forward with plans for a restaurant at Riverfront Plaza on the Downtown Northbank. | The Choptank via Jacksonville Daily Record

A new pirate statue carved by Jett Paxton will soon grace Fernandina Beach's new waterfront park.

St. Johns County leaders and baseball players celebrated the expansion of the Field of Dreams baseball field last week. | St. Johns County

Riverfront Plaza (seen here in November 2025) will host a Valentine's Day movie. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today

A city-owned restaurant is planned in Riverfront Plaza, the park at the former site of the Jacksonville Landing in Downtown. | Jacksonville Daily Record

A woman paddleboards on a river. | PaddleAdventurer.com

Fairfield Park was eventually replaced by the football stadium.

Riverfront Plaza is set to reopen after an 18-month renovation on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

The collapsed gangway at the Sapelo Island Visitors center is shown just after seven people died there. | Lewis M. Levine, AP

Metropolitan Park as it looks now, from where the stage used to be. The cranes are being used to build the Four Seasons Hotel in the background. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

The St. Johns County website features public information about capital improvement projects across the county. |

The Florida C. Dwight Memorial Playground in LaVilla has been renovated to include new jungle gyms and play equipment. It is part of the LaVilla Link, the first segment of the Emerald Trail project. The 30-mile walk and pathway project will connect 14 neighborhoods and 21 parks. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Opponents protest a plan to develop Florida state parks last summer. | Daylina Miller, WUSF

An illustration shows the proposed redesign of Peace Memorial Park in Riverside | City of Jacksonville

Some people who use the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail are concerned about plans for a nearby housing development.

Two of the sports fields at the Losco Regional Park on Hood Road South, now renamed in honor of former City Council member Dick Kravitz. | Google

Metropolitan Park as seen on Sept. 24, 2024 | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today

Opponents rallied Tuesday in Tallahassee against a plan to put golf courses, lodges and pickleball courts in state parks. | Jim Turner, News Service of Florida