Urban Parks: Northbank Riverwalk

[Metro Jacksonville]

Urban Parks: Northbank Riverwalk



The ever expanding Northbank Riverwalk is one of the most popular and well-used attractions in Downtown Jacksonville.  The 2 mile greenway connects Riverside with Downtown.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/985

[brainstormer]

I personally love the Northbank Riverwalk and feel it is under appreciated by most who live outside of the core.  The picture of the courthouse parking lot reminded me of how the city has failed to capitalize on potential.  I have high hopes for that piece of land in the future.  Connecting downtown to Met Park via the riverwalk will go a long ways in producing some connectivity between the two sections.  Develop the courthouse parking lot, build the Shipyards complex and we might actually be on to something. 

[copperfiend]

I like the Riverwalk as well. I cannot wait until the courthouse parking lot is gone.

[Bike Jax]

The Northbank Riverwalk is without a doubt the perfect example of what a transportation corridor can be. The number of people from Riverside and Avondale that commute by walking and/or riding a bike to downtown increased dramatically before the west end was even officially completed.

[BridgeTroll]

I wouldnt be surprised if they eventually need to designate bike lanes on the riverwalk...

[thelakelander]

The Northbank Riverwalk is without a doubt the perfect example of what a transportation corridor can be. The number of people from Riverside and Avondale that commute by walking and/or riding a bike to downtown increased dramatically before the west end was even officially completed.

I think we're missing the boat by not working to convert a portion of the Laura Street ROW into a bike corridor to better connect Springfield with Downtown.   Its a wide road that connects a lot of destinations and the city is getting ready to streetscape the street without incorporating bike lanes.

Downtown St. Petersburg


Downtown Hoboken

[Lucasjj]

I love the connectivity that the Riverwalk brings to Riverside and Downtown. If they could complete it down past the Shipyards to the Stadium area it would make it the best way to travel to games and other events from Riverside. I also like the idea of creating a dedicated bike path in downtown to create a corridor to Springfield.

I am no Lance Armstrong type cyclist, but I would love to see Jacksonville adapt more bike friendly policies in the core that would encourage people to not only use biclycles to commute downtown, but also enjoy downtown on them. I am not claiming to have a strategy in mind to do that, but anything would be good that brings people into downtown other that 9-5 on work days.

[TPC]

I love the Riverwalk. Whenever friends who live outside the core come visit and we go on bike rides I almost always take the Riverwalk to show it off. Not many cities have such a walkway on the water, plus you get some good views of Downtown.

When I worked Downtown and commuted on my bike I would take the Riverwalk and it was such a great way to start off the day.

The only negatives about the Riverwalk is that of the over 100 benches, about half are occupied by bums and the bottle neck at the Landing.

[Traveller]

Someone once told me that the land under the courthouse parking lot was primarily man-made infill, and for that reason nothing higher than one or two stories could be built on it.  He gave a similar reason for why the first Berkman Plaza tower must sit so far back from the river.  The land closer to the water was also infill and could not support the weight of the tower, only two story townhomes and a portion of the parking garage.

Assuming this is all true, and it makes sense that it would be, what exactly can be built on the site of the courthouse parking lot that would make best use of the property?  I know many have proposed a new convention center at the site of the current courthouse and city hall annex.  Are there any other ideas?

[TPC]

I remember seeing some aerial pics on here before showing how wide the river used to be and how much infill has taken place, it was pretty dramatic.

[thelakelander]

Assuming this is all true, and it makes sense that it would be, what exactly can be built on the site of the courthouse parking lot that would make best use of the property?

Its not true.  A new structure would have to be built with pilings that go down deep enough to support the structure (just like the Hyatt next door).

[BridgeTroll]

I am sure it is infill but all you have to do is look across the river at Strand and Peninsula.  I used to watch the construction there... They basically built a cofferdam around the site and began drilling and pouring the pilings and foundations.  They were constantly pumping water out of the site until the concrete was poured.  I seem to remember site prep and foundation building lasting as long as building the rest of the buildings...

[JeffreyS]

I watched a show on the history channel I believe that showed how the east river is about 2/3rd as wide as it once was due to construction pushing the banks further out.
The riverwalk is great Memorial park to Metro Park with dare to dream a bike lane I might have to get a new bike.

[Joe]

I love love love the Northbank Riverwalk. It's easy to complain about all of Jacksonville's brain-dead urban failures; however, the Northbank Riverwalk (particularly the Riverside Ave extension) is just fantastic. Of course, it's not without its faults. But overall it is a jewel. I dare say it's the defining public space of Jax.

If we could corral every anti-downtown suburbanite and convince them to walk the Riverwalk extension, I think it would change a lot of minds. I doubt it would make urbanites out of them, but I bet it would ease their hostility to urban development.

The west end of the Northbank Riverwalk will eventually be extended from Riverside Artist Square to Cummer Museum, Five Points, and Riverside Memorial Park.

I hope you are right Lakelander. However, I remember several of the riverfront condo owners raising LOUD objections to this proposed expansion. I literally dream of the day when I can jog from Memorial Park to Metropolitan Park along a continuous Riverwalk. But I fear that the political will is not there.

[ProjectMaximus]

Someone once told me that the land under the courthouse parking lot was primarily man-made infill, and for that reason nothing higher than one or two stories could be built on it.  He gave a similar reason for why the first Berkman Plaza tower must sit so far back from the river.  The land closer to the water was also infill and could not support the weight of the tower, only two story townhomes and a portion of the parking garage.

Assuming this is all true, and it makes sense that it would be, what exactly can be built on the site of the courthouse parking lot that would make best use of the property? 

All the skyscrapers along the Hong Kong Harbour are on man-made infill. Maybe there's a difference between the cities, but I don't think it should be a barrier that cannot be overcome.