Jacksonville Advances Riverfront Plaza Phase 2 as Emerald Trail Hogan Street Link Connects Downtown to Riverwalk

Riverfront Plaza Phase 2 Delivers Civic Ramps, Rain Gardens, and Cultural Spaces

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Accelerating the revitalization of the historic downtown waterfront along the St. Johns River, the City of Jacksonville and the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) progressed heavy civil construction in October 2026 on Phase 2 of Riverfront Plaza on the footprint of the former Jacksonville Landing. Following the successful late-2025 opening of Phase 1's event lawn and elevated playground, Phase 2 is transforming the riverfront edge into a world-class civic park destination.

Contractors mobilized site grading and concrete forms for the project's signature architectural elements: expansive civic stairs leading down to the water, an artisanal outdoor cafe and beer garden pavilion, native bio-retention rain gardens, and a direct ramped pedestrian and bicycle connection linking the park directly to the Main Street Bridge walkway. City planners affirmed that Phase 2 remains on track for delivery in late 2027.

Emerald Trail Hogan Street Link Completes Key Downtown Greenway Segment

Harmonizing riverfront park construction with urban connectivity, the City of Jacksonville and non-profit partner Groundwork Jacksonville celebrated major construction progress along the 0.9-mile Hogan Street Link of the Emerald Trail. The dedicated linear urban greenway bisects the downtown core, connecting the Northbank Riverwalk at Riverfront Plaza directly north to Union Street and historic Springfield.

Crews completed installation of the separated two-way Hogan Street Cycle Track between Water Street and Bay Street, reconfiguring vehicular lanes into pedestrian-friendly promenades with shade tree plantings and decorative safety pavers. The corridor establishes safe, continuous off-street cycling and walking routes connecting downtown office towers with riverfront recreation.

Multimodal Waterfront Network Bridges Historic Neighborhoods to Downtown Core

The Hogan Street Link represents a critical artery in the wider 30-mile Emerald Trail master plan, which will eventually interconnect 14 historic urban neighborhoods with downtown parks, schools, and transit centers. Civic and municipal leaders praised the ongoing transformations along the riverfront, highlighting that combining signature civic parks with connected active-mobility greenways establishes a vibrant, accessible, and resilient downtown Jacksonville for residents and visitors alike.