JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The uncertain future of Adventure Landing was discussed Monday night at the Jacksonville Beach City Council meeting.
Last year, Action News Jax told you about the proposed 427-unit luxury apartment community with plans to replace the park on Beach Boulevard.
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The City Council voted 6-1 to move that plan forward. The next reading for the ordinance will be held Nov. 7.
From the water park, go-karts, Putt Putt, an arcade and so much more, the park has been a family favorite since 1995.
“We came to do the bumper cars,” one child said Monday. “We just did that, and it was really fun.”
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On Monday, Adventure Landing General Manager Jeremy Christian said the park has a contract extension to remain open until the end of the year.
“We’ve had five extensions so far, and we’re working with the landowner,” Christian said. “We’ll continue to work with them, and if there’s opportunity for more we’ll hope to explore that.”
Christian said around 100,000 people visit the water park annually.
“We just hope to provide the same experience we have until we’re no longer able to be at this location -- or just into the future,” Christian said. “Right now it’s up in the air, and we’ll just keep doing what we can do to make it a family fun environment.”
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Suzanne Nixon has lived in Jax Beach for 35 years.
She said some of her favorite memories are bringing her kids and their kids to the park.
“Following my grandkids up and coming down the chute with them,” Nixon said.
Nixon said she hopes the space will end up being renovated instead of turned into an apartment community.
“I walk here a lot across the bridge, and every time I look over here I’m sad about it,” Nixon said.
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Action News Jax was inside the Jacksonville Beach City Council meeting tonight where several residents spoke about a proposed ordinance and had concerns with the plan. The city held it’s first reading to potentially bring the new development to the area.
“It’s really upsetting to see that we are just stacking houses on houses,” said Steven Hamel.
Many residents don’t like the idea. One issue is traffic. Hamel said that’s one thing the city doesn’t need more of.
“We do not need any more traffic. We don’t need anymore students at school. We don’t need any more building on top of each other,” said Hamel.
According to the applicant attorney for the project, they’ve already completed a traffic study to show the potential flow of traffic in this area if the project goes forward. One resident says the city needed an unbiased traffic study, but the project’s attorney says the traffic study was unbiased.
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This new proposal will also bring a coffee shop and a new Jacksonville Beach sign to the area.
Action News Jax spoke with Korinne Riley, who took her children this afternoon to Adventure Landing for the first time. She said she would hate to see the park go.
“I’m really sad because this is the only thing that we have here in Jax Beach that I can bring my kids too,” said Riley.
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Adventure Landing is hosting Haunted Nights every weekend until the end of the month.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Below are hours for Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach:
- Monday -Thursday: 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. (Go-Karts: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
- Friday 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Go-Karts: 3 p.m.- 10 p.m.)
- Saturday: 11 a.m. - 11p.m. (Go-Karts: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.)
- Sunday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Go-Karts: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)
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