Riverfront Plaza Brings a Resilient New Era in Downtown Jacksonville

For nearly six years, the most prominent seven acres in Downtown Jacksonville were defined by open grass and anticipation. On December 5, 2025, the wait ended with the grand opening of Riverfront Plaza’s Phase I and its Destination Playground.

Constructed by Haskell in partnership with the City of Jacksonville and architectural firm Perkins & Will, the project reimagined the former Jacksonville Landing site. The Phase I opening marked the culmination of years of complex infrastructure work, restoring public access to the St. Johns River while fortifying the site for future development.

Located on the Northbank of the St. Johns River, the Jacksonville Landing opened in 1987 and, for more than a decade, served as the region’s premier festival marketplace. But eventually, major retail and hospitality brands began to depart, and ongoing disputes between the building owner and the city, which owned the land, led to its gradual decline. A settlement returned full ownership to the city, and less than three months later, the structure was demolished.

The empty field became a beloved destination in its own right. For the first time in decades, the river was visible from the street, and the open green space became a popular spot for runners and sunset watchers.

This public embrace heavily influenced the final design of Riverfront Plaza, moving away from high-density commercial replacements in favor of a “One Park Jax” vision that prioritized green space, views and community gathering.

As the construction partner, Haskell was tasked with executing a design that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, specifically addressing the site’s vulnerability to flooding.

A critical component of Phase I was the complete reconstruction of the river bulkhead to protect downtown from storm surges. However, the site’s history presented immediate obstacles.

During excavation, crews discovered undocumented buried structures, including remnants of bulkheads and bridge decks dating to the 19th Century. These obstacles blocked the planned tieback system for the new bulkhead. To resolve the conflict without delaying the schedule, the team pivoted to a value-engineering solution, replacing large concrete piles with ductile iron pipes. This adjustment circumvented the underground history while saving the city approximately $1.5 million.

The focal point of this engineering effort is the “destination playground.” Far from a standard swing set, this architectural feature is built atop the park’s pavilion building. The design maximizes the footprint by stacking amenities: the shell space for park operations, restrooms and a future café sit at ground level, while the play structure rises above, mimicking the fluid forms of the river and providing children with panoramic views of the Main Street Bridge.

While the Grand Opening activated the playground and lawn, the vision for Riverfront Plaza continues to expand.

Phase II is anticipated to begin in early 2026 and will involve the construction of a pedestrian ramp linking the Main Street Bridge directly to the park, addressing a decades-long disconnect and further integrating the downtown pedestrian network. Also included are a permanent beer garden and native rain gardens for stormwater management.

Haskell delivers certainty of outcome for complex civic and infrastructure projects. Contact us to discuss how our integrated teams can bring your community’s vision to life.