The City of Jacksonville announced on May 7 that it will begin removing the existing waterfront boardwalk near the boat launch area at Northeast Creek Park during the week of May 11. The boardwalk has been damaged over time by severe weather events, including Hurricane Florence, and is being removed due to safety concerns.
The removal marks the first step in a larger restoration plan for Northeast Creek Park. The city plans to rebuild and expand the site starting late this winter into spring of 2027. Planned improvements include a new boardwalk, a fishing pier extending into Northeast Creek and parallel to shore, a new living shoreline, wetland restoration, and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant kayak launch. Funding for this project comes from a grant awarded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA provides financial assistance for environmental research related to climate adaptation and stewardship. Its funding priorities cover climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience efforts, sustainable fisheries, habitat restoration, stewardship initiatives, and education programs.
Pat Donovan-Brandenburg said, “We are excited to be able to get this project underway. Having a safe boardwalk and pier as well as adding a kayak launch for public is important to improving quality of life here in Jacksonville. Equally important, is addressing the erosion we see along our waterways due to storms and water rise. Expanding on the wetlands and installing a living shoreline will work to preserve this.”
Jacksonville received NOAA’s multi-year Coastal Resiliency Grant totaling $16 million in October 2024. Other city projects funded by this grant include expansion of the Oyster Highway; flood mitigation and watershed restoration at Scales Creek; as well as shoreline and wetland restoration at Phillips Parks and Chaney Creek.
The Stormwater and Engineering Divisions within the City of Jacksonville are leading these projects.
