03/03/2026
Two more parks coming to the Sparkly Jacksonville Riverfront! Does this make 402? Do you have any new parks in your neck of the woods?
August 4, 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was signed into law, authorizing $900 million annually in permanent funding for LWCF. Prior to the passage of GAOA, funding for LWCF relied on annual congressional appropriations.
For the 2024–2025 cycle, states continue to receive substantial funding, with some states (e.g., Georgia) expecting $5–7 million annually and others, such as Vermont, facilitating grants ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000
Jacksonville has rapidly upgraded its park system by significantly increasing local funding—rising from $78 to over $113 per person in recent years—alongside major private-sector investment, such as the Jaguars' stadium deal funding downtown waterfront parks. While a major $147 million federal grant for the Emerald Trail was awarded in 2024, it was later rescinded in 2025, forcing the city to rely more heavily on local, state, and private funding sources.
As of late 2025, Groundwork Jacksonville and city officials broke ground on the 0.9-mile Hogan Street Link of the Emerald Trail, which will connect the St. Johns River to FSCJ and Springfield by early 2027. Despite losing a major federal grant, construction on this Downtown segment is proceeding, aiming to create a walkable/bikeable path through the urban core.
While a $147 million federal grant was lost in July 2025 due to a reversal of previous funding, local and already-secured funding allowed the Hogan Street phase to proceed.
The 30-mile Emerald Trail is designed to connect 14 historic neighborhoods, 18 schools, and 30 parks to the urban core, with the full project previously aimed for a 10-year completion timeline.
I just wanted to document some of the park progress and park funding roller coasters.
Speaking of roller coasters, the Trek Park has been closed due to business dealings. We will go ahead and feature this one since we don’t know when it will open and we would like to capture the amazing Sparkliness of the park for hikers and bikers as I have enjoyed it in 2025. I have walked many a grief healing walks up those hills since Aterra opened.  The natures soothed my soul, and it was fun getting lost in the weeds … for once. Ha!
