JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The LaVilla and Brooklyn neighborhoods in Jacksonville are now connected.
The first link of the Emerald Trail is complete, stretching 1.3 miles from Brooklyn to New Town.
“We’re just enjoying the new Emerald Trail," said Nathan Sweet, who lives near the LaVilla portion of the Emerald Trail.
Sweet and his daughter, Jasmine, have patiently waited for the Emerald Trail to finally open right behind their apartment in LaVilla.
After nearly three years of watching the construction, it was finally time to take Princess the Pony for a ride.
“She's got pedals," said Jasmine, as she pushed Princess along.
The first section complete in LaVilla runs about 1.3 miles from behind the Fresh Market in Brooklyn, in front of the Prime Osborn and Lift Every Voice and Sing Park, underneath I-95 and up to New Town, where it connects with the S Line Trail.
That’s a lot for Sweet and Princess to work with, but one day it’ll be a whole lot more – 30 miles running throughout the Urban Core.
“It should be great," said Sweet. "It should connect all around the city. I think it’s a cool idea.”
It’s not a cheap idea either – the Jacksonville City Council agreed in 2021 to put $132 million in gas tax money over the next 30 years to the trail.
Then in March, the trail received a $147 million federal grant to help make it a reality.
When all is said and done, the Emerald Trail will link 16 schools, two colleges, three hospitals and 21 parks, with another 13 schools and 17 parks within three blocks.
It’s that kind of connectivity that got City Councilman Matt Carlucci on board.
“I hope it gets completed real soon because I want to see it, number one," said Carlucci. "I want to mostly see the wonderful things it will do for the areas that it intertwines through.”
All in due time – right now, it’s still in the early phases.
However, the LaVilla portion is enough to get Sweet and Princess rolling.
“Hopefully it’ll bring business, all kinds of stuff Jacksonville really needs," said Sweet. "I think it’s definitely a good thing for the city.
The full trail is expected to be completed in 2029.