URBAN TRAILS

Urban Trails Map

To improve pedestrian and bicycle safety as well as provide our residents a network of trails to get around Jacksonville Beach easily, the City of Jacksonville Beach hired consultants CHW to obtain public input and develop the Urban Trails Master Plan. In December 2022, the Jacksonville Beach City Council approved the Urban Trails Master Plan.

This Urban Trails Master Plan provides a framework for implementing a comprehensive trail system. Working with consultants and utilizing public input obtained from discussions with the community, the trail plan identifies the following:

  • A vision and framework for a city-wide, multi-use trail system.
  • Links between neighborhoods, beaches, parks, commercial focal points, and natural areas.
  • Routes, providing design parameters and concepts for various facility types.

Design concepts were developed using best practices with considerations for the desired user groups.

The mission of the Jacksonville Beach Urban Trails project is to create a multi-modal urban trails network for the City of Jacksonville Beach that provides safe access and usability for all ages and abilities of residents and visitors.

The Goals and Objectives for the Urban Trails Master Plan are:

  • Connectivity: Connect the City’s multiple green spaces and parks into the overall network to create a comprehensive looped system, including the golf course.
  • Accessible: Provide shared use paths for users to enjoy recreationally and to traverse from important origins and destinations throughout the City.
  • Safety: Prioritize safety for all users through separated trails, the use of lighting and safe, dedicated crossings (particularly A1A).
  • Sense of Place: Develop a complete wayfinding system to assist users in navigating the trail network and reinforce the strong sense of place of being in Jacksonville Beach
  • Multi-Modal: Accommodate a wide range of multi-modal travel including pedestrians, bicycles, strollers, roller bladers, skateboarders, and scooters.
  • Policy: Provide policy recommendations and guidelines for improving transportation connectivity and mobility throughout the community.

East-West Routes are First Priority:
The City Council has prioritized installing East-West routes to help residents who live on the west side of Jacksonville Beach get safely to the beach. As such, there are several trails in District 3 that will be the first trails to be constructed.

For more information about the project: URBAN TRAILS MASTER PLAN PROJECT

Read Frequently Asked Questions 

Read final report here: URBAN TRAILS MASTER PLAN FINAL REPORT

It is important to note the Urban Trails will be installed on the City’s public right-of-way and will not be installed on private property.

URBAN TRAILS UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 4, 2023:

City of Jax Beach recently concluded negotiations with our Design Consultant for the design of the following Trails:

    • Trail 1(h): 15th Avenue North from Penman Rd to 1 Street North.
    • Trail 7: 8th Avenue North from Penman Rd to 9th Street North then 9th Avenue North to 1st Street North.
    • Trail 8: 4th Avenue North from Penman Rd to 1st Street North.
    • Trail 3(b): Jacksonville Drive from South Beach Parkway to A1A.
  • Designs have been completed for the 4 trails and you can view the URBAN TRAIL CORRIDOR DESIGNS
  • A Community Meeting has been scheduled for:
    • Wednesday, December 13, 6 – 7:30pm
    • Location: Parks & Recreation Community Center, 2508 South Beach Parkway
  • The Community Meeting will include a presentation, Q&A, and viewing session for the Construction Design Plans for the Jacksonville Beach Urban Trails. Presentations from Jacksonville Beach Staff and consultants from CHW will be followed by a time for questions and the ability to see the Urban Trails plans on display.
  • Parks and Recreation plans to distribute door hangers on all homes along the urban trail corridors to notify residents of the December 13 Community Meeting. So, please be on the lookout for a door hanger if you live on 15th Ave N,
  • After the Community meetings, the designs with be finalized and the consultants will provide final designs and bid specifications so we can solicit bids for constructing these trails.
  • Based on this timeline, we expect construction to begin in April or May 2024.

For property owners who have landscaping, structures or pavers in the right-of-way where the urban trail is proposed, these issues will be governed by the Revocable Encroachment Permit and will be discussed at the community meeting.

WHAT IS A REVOCABLE ENCROACHMENT PERMIT?

The Revocable Revocable Encroachment Permit is obtained when a property owner wants to place an improvement or erect a structure (i.e. a fence or other built structure) in the right of way adjacent to their property. You can see the conditions of the REVOCABLE ENCROACHMENT PERMIT.

URBAN TRAILS PROJECT HISTORY

  • In 2020, the City of Jacksonville Beach held Community Conversations to get feedback from residents on their vision for Jacksonville Beach. The City also held Community Conversations with businesses to understand their vision for Jacksonville Beach.
  • In 2021, the information gathered from the Community Conversations was used by the City Council to develop a Strategic Plan for the City of Jacksonville Beach.
  • Based on input from the Community Conversations, the consistent feedback received from residents was the desire for improvements so residents could walk and bike safely throughout Jacksonville Beach. So, the City launched the Urban Trail Master Plan Project to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility throughout the community.
  • The first Community Meeting about the Urban Trail Master Plan Project was held October 27, 2021 to get input from residents; an additional 5 public meetings were held, with the final pubic meeting in March 2022.
  • The City Council approved the consultant’s final report on the Urban Trail Master Plan in December 2022.
  • In early 2023, the City Council discussed priorities for the Urban Trail Master Plan and the consensus was that East-West routes should be addressed first to provide residents who live west of Penman and 3rd St, safe routes to the beach.
  • Parks and Recreation and Public Works identified 4 East-West routes to focus on:
    • 15th Ave N
    • 8th Ave N/9th Ave N
    • 4th Ave N
    • Jacksonville Drive