The Northbank Riverwalk Park signifies a unique private/public partnership between the City of Jacksonville and Fidelity National Financial and is a great step in how the city and the JEDC plan to fulfill the goals as outlined in the Downtown Action Plan.  In 2005, as part of a land swap agreement between the city and Fidelity National, Fidelity National was tasked with developing and landscaping a park parcel on land retained by the city that is now available to the public to access the Riverwalk. Fidelity also had to develop a public parking area that now consists of 28 parking spaces available for public use.

"This new public park will help complement the many great downtown assets our city has along the Riverwalk and will connect the workers and residents of Riverside Avenue to the heart of the urban core," said Mayor Peyton.  "This park is another great step on the road toward a more revitalized downtown."
 
"We can think of no better way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of relocating Fidelity National's corporate headquarters here than in joining the City to present this park to the public," said Bill Foley, Chairman of Fidelity National Financial. "We're delighted to have been a part of this special project that will bring pleasure for many generations to the people of Jacksonville."

Churchwell Lofts Renovation
• Developer Robert Pavelka continues the renovation of the J.H. Churchwell Building at the corner of Bay and Market streets.  The first floor will contain 8,000 square feet of retail space and an awning to provide the sidewalk with shade.  The building will also contain several units of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom lofts.  The renovations should be completed by the end of May.

May Art Walk Celebrates The Players and the 50s Era
• During the May First Wednesday Art Walk, Mayor Peyton helped kick-off The Players Championship Week at the Jacksonville Landing.  Other festivities included 50s music in Hemming plaza and a blues jam session at MOSH.  The Art Walk occurs Downtown the first Wednesday of every month, rain or shine.  Click here for more information.                                                                                       

Metro Park Marina Temporarily Closed for Dredging Project
• The city’s Metropolitan Park Marina will be closed for approximately two months due to a dredging project.  Approximately 7,854 cubic yards of the marina will be dredged as part of ongoing maintenance of the 13-year-old facility.

New Riverside Trolley Service
• The JTA started a new Riverside Trolley route on May 5th. The first day of service drew over 360 riders, far exceeding JTA’s expectations.  The trolley connects The Jacksonville Landing to the Five Points area in Riverside, making several stops along Riverside Avenue.  It costs 50 cents per ride and operates Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

New and Improved Streetscaping
• The JEDC, JEA, DVI and the Public Works Department have been working to improve the lighting standards for Downtown streets.  Accomplishments to date include: an inventory of lighting in the core Downtown, an establishment of brightness parameters and an improved process for reporting and repairing unlit street lights.

Wayfarer Signage
• The JEDC is presently analyzing current wayfarer signage for new improvements and updating.  A work program is being developed and design efforts are anticipated to commence June 2008.

Parking Signage
• Speaking of signage, the JEDC is evaluating the design criteria of successful public parking garage and lot signage in other cities to implement throughout Downtown.
• New “NO PARKING-Football Game Day” signs were mounted by the city on all parking meter posts along Bay Street between Ocean and Marsh Streets.  Previously bags were placed over the parking meters on the Fridays before a football game and not removed until the following Mondays, which restricted parking for three days. 
• In an effort to help businesses, the JEDC orchestrated the removal of parking signs on Forsyth and Adams Streets which limited parking hours. Previously, the signs restricted parking from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Parking is now permitted 24/7.

EverBank Arena Club Expansion Complete
• Representatives from EverBank, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and the JEDC announce the expansion of the EverBank Arena Club.  The new club in the Arena expanded from 5,663 SF to 15,910 SF to meet the needs of the growing demand for membership.  The club has been sold out since the venue opened five years ago and the waiting list has continually grown. 

Jacksonville Film Festival Underway
• The 6th Annual Jacksonville International Film Festival is May 15 -21, 2008.  The festival was kicked-off by the premiere of the HBO movie Recount, starring Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern and Dennis Leary, which was filmed in Jacksonville. JEDC Commissioner Craig Gibbs also had a role as a Florida Supreme Court judge.  The week-long festival has several events including the screening of another movie filmed in Jacksonville: The Year of Getting to Know Us, formerly titled Rocket, starring Sharon Stone, Jimmy Fallon, Tom Arnold and Lucy Liu.  For more information and the full schedule of events, click here.

Bay Street Bridge Construction
• Construction of the new Bay Street Bridge at Hogan’s Creek is underway.  The city previously completed a Storm Water Management Study for Duval County which recommended the proposed improvements to the Bay Street Bridge.  One of the findings in the report is the need to increase the bridge opening to alleviate upstream flooding along Hogan’s Creek.   As a result, the bridge is being widened from an existing 40 foot width to a new 80 foot width.  Sidewalks on the bridge will also be improved. 

Military personnel received free tickets to ACC Baseball Championship
• The JEDC Sports & Entertainment office, the city’s Veteran Affairs office, Channel 4 and ACC Properties made it possible for more than a thousand Jacksonville area U.S. military personnel to receive free tickets to the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship- commemorating Military Appreciation Day on May 25.  The ACC Championship will be held at the Baseball Grounds from May 21 to May 25.  Click here to purchase your tickets.

American Public Works Association Conference held Downtown
• The American Public Works Association had their state conference in Downtown Jacksonville.  Jacksonville drew rave reviews from attendees all over Florida, complimenting the city’s Downtown for its cleanliness and walkability.

City Approves Courthouse
• Jacksonville City Council approved funding for the new $350-million county courthouse facility.  Groundbreaking is expected early 2009, with substantial completion anticipated in the summer of 2011.  The development of the new courthouse will enable government functions to move out of valuable riverfront property and be a catalyst for redevelopment of the area.