The city of Jacksonville, Florida, has adopted a $2 billion budget for fiscal years 2025 through 2026. Of the budget, the city has approved a $687 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the coming year, targeting investments in public safety, parks, recreation, healthcare and infrastructure.
All projects featured in the CIP are categorized into a series of program areas. These include:
- Drainage.
- Environment/Quality of Life.
- Parks.
- Public Facilities.
- Public Safety.
- Roads/Infrastructure/Transportation.
- Targeted Economic Development.
Many of the planned capital projects will target the city’s downtown area as Jacksonville works to enhance its appeal and amenities for residents and visitors. The largest project listed in the plan – totaling approximately $120 million – will go toward an ongoing $775 million municipal stadium renovation project. It has been approximately three decades since the last renovation, with stadium updates enabling the city to retain the Jacksonville Jaguars professional football team and host events such as the Florida-Georgia game, Tax Slayer Bowl and other future events.
The city will dedicate $54.7 million throughout the coming year to the Shipyards West Park project – a $74.7 million initiative to build a nine-acre riverfront park. The project will feature several recreational components alongside pier removal and improvement work. The park will feature a large flex lawn in the center with a riverwalk cutting through the area, providing connections to downtown features and amenities.
Jacksonville’s iconic river will benefit from another $20.3 million investment in the Riverfront Plaza project, an effort expected to cost $78.5 million in total. The project will replace the Jacksonville Landing site with a destination riverfront park, with plans to build a great lawn, a building featuring a walk-up cafe, a rebuilt riverwalk and a rooftop playground on top of the structure.
The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) will receive $20 million throughout 2025 to spend on relocating a building and designing a park. The $50 million project will involve the construction of an improved facility on a 2.5-acre parcel that will be leased to MOSH. Additional features will include associated parking, driveways and private outdoor exhibit spaces.
Additional highlight featured in the FY 2025-2026 CIP include:
- $51 million to surface roadways, repair and build new sidewalks and improve intersections.
- $20.4 million for drainage projects.
- $18.1 million to build a fire station.
- $12 million to support affordable housing and homelessness programs.
- $9.2 million to remove septic tanks.
Photo by Kelly from Pexels
