Atlanta has the BeltLine. New York City has the High Line, Chicago has the 606. Boston has the Rose Kennedy Greenway. World-class cities have signature parks and green spaces where residents can safely walk, bike, recreate and connect with their city and with each other.
Jacksonville has a vision of what that might look like here. Imagined by famed architect Henry Klutho more than 100 years ago, Jacksonville’s Emerald Necklace encompasses approximately 19 miles of new trails, greenspace, parks and waterways that encircle the urban core and link at least 14 urban neighborhoods and downtown to Hogans Creek, McCoys Creek, the S-Line Rail Trail and the Northbank and Southbank riverwalks.
It has been a dream for a century and Groundwork Jacksonville is working to make it a reality. Groundwork has hired the PATH Foundation—the organization that helped to create the Atlanta BeltLine and many other notable trails —to develop the Trail Master Plan that will bring Klutho’s vision to life.
Groundwork and PATH have been working with key neighborhood stakeholders, city agencies, city council and business leaders to discuss trail connections, amenities, and possible names for the Emerald Necklace. Now it’s time for the entire community to provide our input.
Groundwork is hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, July 24, at 6:00 p.m. at the FSCJ Advanced Technology Center, 401 W. State St. Room T-140.
This is an exciting opportunity to get a sneak peek of the master plan and provide feedback that may be incorporated into the final design and branding of Jacksonville’s signature outdoor destination. The meeting is free and all are welcome to attend. The first 50 attendees will receive a small gift complements of Groundwork Jacksonville.
For more information and to learn visit their website.