Jacksonville, FL – On Thursday, Sept. 25, City of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas, and VyStar Credit Union CEO Brian Wolfburg hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hogan Street Link, the second segment of the Emerald Trail to be constructed as part of the 30-mile network of trails and parks through the city’s urban core.
“I’m thrilled to see the start of construction on a truly incredible project. When complete, this new cycle track will not only link the Riverwalk to Springfield and Hogans Creek, but it’ll also provide a safe, dedicated downtown path for cyclists and pedestrians. And it’s part of downtown’s growth, an economic driver for the whole city,” said Mayor Deegan.
Elected officials, downtown stakeholders, and the design and construction teams were on hand as dirt was turned commemorating the first phase of construction. As part of the celebration, Kay Ehas recognized VyStar Credit Union for its lead investment of the Hogan Street Link, and ongoing generous support of Groundwork Jacksonville.
“We believe in moving communities forward together,” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg. “As a member-owned financial institution, everything we do has our members at the heart of it. That’s why we’ve been proud supporters of the Emerald Trail from the very beginning. We see it as a defining piece of the urban core, connecting neighborhoods, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and bringing new energy to downtown Jacksonville.”
The Emerald Trail will be constructed along the west side of Hogan Street from Water Street north to Union Street connecting Riverfront Plaza, VyStar’s headquarters, City Hall, James Weldon Johnson Park, the JTA Rosa Parks Transit Station and dozens of businesses along the way. Hogan Street will remain one-way heading north from Bay Street, but the western-most lane will be converted to a two-way cycle track, separated from traffic.
The City’s Hogan Street Link project is in partnership with Groundwork Jacksonville. Design and construction is being led by Baker Design Build in collaboration with Halff, transportation engineering firm Peters & Yaffee, electrical and mechanical engineering firm Haddad Engineering Inc., Smith Surveying Group and SCAPE Landscape Architecture.
According to Ehas, “The Emerald Trail is more than a trail—it’s a transformational infrastructure project that promises jobs, economic development,recreation, social connection and environmental resilience.
I am delighted that we are taking our next step toward connecting our City like never before.”
About the Emerald Trail
The 30-mile Emerald Trail will connect 14 urban neighborhoods to downtown, the St. Johns River, McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek. It will link 16 schools, three colleges, three hospitals, 21 parks and the Regional Transportation Center, along with other destinations like restaurants, shopping and businesses, with dozens more schools and parks located within blocks of the trail. Groundwork Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail Master Plan was adopted by City Council on March 26, 2019. Currently, 50% of the trail segments are complete, under construction or in design.
About Groundwork Jacksonville
Groundwork Jacksonville, Inc., is the city’s nonprofit partner in building the Emerald Trail and restoring McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek. Groundwork Jacksonville was formed in 2014 as a partnership between the City of Jacksonville, the US National Park Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Groundwork USA. Groundwork is one of 21 Trusts across the country and the only Trust in Florida. For more information, visit www.groundworkjacksonville.org or follow on social @GroundworkJax.