Jacksonville's Most Walkable Neighborhoods

[Metro Jacksonville]

Jacksonville's Most Walkable Neighborhoods



According to Walk Score, there is no  Walker's Paradise  in Jacksonville.  However, there are a few urban districts in Jacksonville that qualify as  Very Walkable  districts.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/848

[jmccharen]

This Walk Score seems to miss something. In my mind, Riverside is one of the only truly walkable areas in Jacksonville, and the sole reason for this is Publix. I can get healthy food and decent produce without a car. Does San Marco have a grocery store that folks can get to as easily? And I don't mean Matthews Market (no offense).

I just met a Health Department rep yesterday and the discussion was about the various ways wealth inequalities make us less healthy. Access to affordable, fresh, and decent food is a huge part of this.

[thelakelander]

The way it looks, areas located within a few blocks of commercial districts, such as Five Points, Park & King or Edgewood Avenue rank the highest, in terms of walkability.

1661 Riverside ranks pretty high.  It comes in at an 89 out of 100.  However, walkability becomes more auto-dependent north of the CSX railroad tracks.  So it ends up averaging out to 71. 

Looking at this, I would assume San Marco's rank is so high because the entire neighborhood is no further than a three or four block walk from a walkable commercial district when you factor in the locations of San Marco Square, Hendricks and San Marco Blvd, in regards to the rest of the neighborhood.

[David]

I've lived in San Marco for 3 years and Riverside for about one. I find myself walking far more in Riverside than I did in San Marco, mainly because of the wider variety of destinations in the area. Publix, the eateries/bars in 5 points, memorial park, Riverside park.

Then again, I didn't utilize the square very often, other than the San Marco theater. San Marco does seem a bit more compact though, has more of an urban feel whereas Riverside has always had the small town feel, even though it covers a considerably larger area.

[Jimmy Olsen]

I agree with you Lakelander, I live on the other side of the tracks and my walk score came out to a 55/100.... not very good.

I went 6 months without a car, I used my bike to go everywhere. Kent Campus, Publix (only once, that was a long ride), Five Points, Murray Hill, Avondale,   etc. After BOTH bikes were stolen, I had to walk everywhere or depend on the HORRIBLE bus routes JTA has to offer. And even worse, waiting an hour for a Taxi to show up.

Ok, so I got side tracked there. Yes we are bringing you down LoL.

[Bewler]

I'm surprised Jax beaches didn't score higher, it always seems like theres scores of people along 1st - 3rd and the whole Atlantic shopping area, jogging, biking, or skating. I assume those would all fall under walking

[thelakelander]

The areas west of 3rd Street, most likely bring the beaches down.

[GideonGlib]

There are also some very walkable neighborhoods in the bedroom communities of St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs and Fernandina.

[Johnny]

I wonder if there has been a study showing how cities that are walkable have reduced crime in those walkable areas. More eyes on the street, seems obvious... Hello Mayor Payton

[downtownparks]

Springfield is very walkable too. We have sidewalks on both sides of the street, and aside from the occasional speeding asshole, the traffic isn't crazy. In fact, that was one of the first things we noticed about SPR when we moved in was how much foot traffic there was, at least as compared to our old neighborhood in Arlington.

[Abhishek]

I live at Southside and Deerwood, by the service road. My walk score is 28..yay! Talk about car dependency!

[TREE4309]

I find Ortega to be pretty walker-friendly.  The village square still has a bank, drug store and several specialty shops right in the heart of the neighborhood, several water-front parks with walking paths, and Publix, Belk, Chamblin Bookmine, and all the other stores and restaurants at Roosevelt Square Mall can be walked to either over the Hwy 17 bridge or the Ortega River drawbridge (whichboth have walk/bike lanes).  Sidewalks along Herschel from San Juan will get you to Eclipse, Harpoon Louie's, Goal Post Deli and The Loop in west Avondale, too!

[thelakelander]

^ The area, north of the Ortega River is what Walkscore calls "Fairfax".  Its the third most walkable area of town with a 71, behind Downtown (88) and San Marco (80).

[David]

I'm surprised Jax beaches didn't score higher, it always seems like theres scores of people along 1st - 3rd and the whole Atlantic shopping area, jogging, biking, or skating. I assume those would all fall under walking

Bewler,

I don't think this study covered Jacksonville Beach. I mean, that's across the ditch and therefore, it's a completely alien universe in which day is night and people walk and ride bikes instead of drive cars everywhere. But in all seriousness, it is a different city technically and this site tend to focus on the events in the urban core, even the new walgreens opening up in springfield!

They do have a cute subcatagories for those in the burbs though!

[Lunican]

City's not made for walkin'

Grab a bike helmet on the way out the door to work. Lace up a pair of sneakers to run errands. Put away a set of car keys - and don't touch them for a week.

Believe it or not, it can happen in Jacksonville.

In the midst of the urban rush, Stan and Johanna Soliday enjoy a mostly car-free lifestyle in pedestrian-friendly San Marco.

"We believe that it's better for our health and lowers stress," said Stan Soliday, 54. "We try to park the car for environmental and practical reasons."

Their neighborhood is a hidden gem in a place largely dependent on cars. Jacksonville was ranked as the least "walkable" of the 40 largest U.S. cities by walkscore.com, a Web site gaining popularity with homeowners and real estate agents.

Full Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080208/met_312620877.shtml