Jacksonville city leaders on Wednesday celebrated the opening of the Riverfront Music Garden and the reopening of a long-closed stretch of the Northbank Riverwalk, restoring a key downtown corridor and adding a new public space focused on music and the arts.
The newly reopened portion of the Riverwalk now connects the Riverside Arts Market to the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, a link that had been inaccessible for about two years during construction.
Mayor Donna Deegan joined city officials and community members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where dozens gathered to be among the first to experience the upgraded waterfront.
“I’ve said to people for years that if we would only focus on downtown, really truly spend that investment getting the things done downtown that will connect our citizens to it, it will provide the type of return on investment that will allow us to invest in the whole rest of our city without raising taxes,” Deegan said.
The Riverfront Music Garden features performance space for live music, seating areas and speakers throughout the park. It also includes interactive art installations designed to engage visitors with sound and movement.
District 7 City Councilman Jimmy Peluso said the project highlights a broader goal of expanding access to the St. Johns River.
“We have a ton of things happening, but nothing makes me more excited than making sure there’s public access on our river,” Peluso said.
A centerpiece of the music garden is its Walk of Fame, which honors artists with ties to Jacksonville. The installation recognizes a wide range of musicians, from historic figures such as the Johnson Brothers, who wrote “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” and blues singer Ma Rainey, to contemporary artists including Tim McGraw, Limp Bizkit, Lynyrd Skynyrd and hip-hop group 95 South.
Carlos Spencer, a member of 95 South, attended the event and said the recognition from his hometown carries special meaning.
“Being honored by your city in the place that you were born and bred means everything, because if you can make it in your city, get the support from your city, you can make it anywhere,” Spencer said. “Jacksonville just solidified that for us.”
In addition to the music garden, several nearby improvements are now complete. The bridge over McCoys Creek has reopened, and the Corkscrew fitness area has been refurbished.
City leaders say the upgrades are part of a continued effort to revitalize downtown Jacksonville and attract both residents and visitors to the riverfront.