An entire island owned by the city of Jacksonville is finally being developed as a park after more than five decades of dreaming by city leaders.
Action News Jax ventured to that island on Friday to show you the work being done so more people can enjoy it.
The island has been a part of the city since the 1950s, but attempts to develop the land never succeeded until now.
Kloe Thompson with the Freedom Boat Club said, “It’s just sat there … it used to be called Mud Island, and that’s pretty much what it was.”
But as we got closer to the island, we could see that's now changing.
“That’s the new dock that they’ve been putting in?” Michael Yoshida asked.
“That’s the new dock,” Thompson said.
From high above, Sky Action News Jax got a look at what's now called Exchange Island. The state dedicated the island to Duval County in 1956 “…as long as [it is] used for public park purposes.” It sat undeveloped for years but within the last several months, a new dock has opened.
The floating dock is making it a lot easier for boaters and others who want to go and explore the island.
“It’s become a lot more of a family-friendly place, you know, where you can bring your kids and go have a picnic,” Thompson said.
Once you’re on the island, it’s easy to see some of the work that’s already been done. There’s a sign with park rules, picnic tables and bins for trash and recycling.
So far, more than $500,000 has gone into designing and developing the island. That includes adding nature trails and, later in 2017, adding two picnic shelters.
Changes that Thompson hopes will bring more people to the island and ultimately to the downtown waterfront.
“When you’re driving over it on your way to work, you’re like, 'Oh I want to go hang out there cause it’s right in the middle of downtown,'" Thompson said.
And with the island so close to the Mathews Bridge, some city leaders have asked whether there should be a way for people without boats to get here.
James has lived in Jacksonville all his life and says he’s never been to the island.
Susan said with the new changes, she might go visit.
“I think it’s really exciting that the city is, you know, putting some effort into it,” Thompson said.
The work is a result of a combination of state grants and city money.
Cox Media Group
