Jacksonville Riverwalk

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. John’s 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. [Charlotte Observer: Feb 15, 1987, Page 7F-JACKSONVILLE RIVERWALK EXPOSES FLORIDA CITY`S GOOD SIDE] Today, the riverwalks are among the most popular and well-used attractions in the downtown area.

outhbank

The 1.2 mile 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.

Master plan

:

Current

The best way to check out Jacksonville's downtown riverfront is to park by the Wyndham Hotel near the eastern end of the Southbank Riverwalk and walk toward the west.

Several upscale restaurants are located within a block of the walkway: Ruth's Chris Steak House, Morton's of Chicago, River City Brewing Company, the University Club, and the Charthouse. Follow the walkway’s twists and turns, past the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel, under the Main Street Bridge (where you actually go below the surface of the river) until you reach the Jacksonville Maritime Museum, Friendship Fountain & Park, the Museum of Science & History, a marina and finally the River City Brewing Company, a popular waterfront restaurant. There is security lighting at night and a visitor center with restrooms, along with 55 benches to sit and watch the river. If that’s not enough, take a River Taxi to the Northbank or walk across the scenic Main Street Bridge, Jacksonville’s last Vertical lift bridge, or take the JTA Skyway, which crosses the river on the Acosta Bridge.

Two of Jacksonville's most upscale hotels are located directly on the Southbank Riverwalk: Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront and Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk. Other hotels within blocks of the Riverwalk include the Hampton Inn and Extended Stay Hotel. [ [http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/florida/jacksonville/attraction-detail.html?vid=1154654614527 New York Times: Travel Guides, Jacksonville Attractions] ]

Northbank

The center of the Northbank Riverwalk is the Landing, a complex of restaurants and assorted shops where numerous events take place. Next door, the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts hosts everything from touring Broadway shows, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and popular music acts. Originally, the Northbank Riverwalk only stretched from Berkman Plaza, west to the CSX Building.

The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville is located directly on the Northbank Riverwalk and the Omni Jacksonville Hotel is located one block north.

Upscale Restaurants include Plaza III Steakhouse, the River Club, Juliette's Bistro, Benny's Steak and Seafood, Mongo's Flat Grill, and Koja Sushi.

In 2002, the Jacksonville Track Club partnered with the city in commissioning "The Runner", a statue of a sprinting man on the riverwalk. [ [http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/677a0/ba497/4/ Virtual Tourist--Exploring Jacksonville's Downtown Riverfront] ]

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, $8.7 million project. The landscaped brick walkway connects the existing Riverwalk at the CSX building to Riverside Avenue. Its features include historic lighting, water fountains, trash receptacles, bike racks, irrigated landscaping and over 100 benches. [ [http://www.jaxkids.org/NR/exeres/D3297F35-4267-4813-9622-210FBB98139E.htm?NRMODE=Unpublished City of Jacksonville website: Jan 27, 2005-Mayor Cuts Ribbon to Open Northbank Riverwalk] ]

The City of Jacksonville and Fidelity National Financial executed a land swap in 2008 that added more access to the river in the form of a 1.3 acre park with 28 public parking spaces 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. [ [http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/798/122/ Metro Jacksonville: May 21, 2008-Public Access Improvements for Northbank Riverwalk] ]

Future plans

The east end of the Northbank Riverwalk will eventually be completed between the Berkman and Shipyards properties, connecting to Metropolitan Park. To the west, a second extension from Riverside Avenue to Riverside Park is being planned in the future. No additional work is currently contemplated on the Southbank Riverwalk.

ee also

*Jacksonville Landing

References

External links

* [http://apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp?parkid=11 Southbank Riverwalk Official website]
* [http://apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp?parkid=286 Northbank Riverwalk Official website]