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Metropolitan Park (Florida)
Metropolitan Park is a 18.25-acre (73,900 m2) urban waterfront park and concert venue located between EverBank Stadium and the north bank of the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It is projected to be the eastern terminus of the northbank Jacksonville Riverwalk and "is likely the most legislated, negotiated and studied parcel of land owned by the city." Since 2024 an extensive redesign effort has been underway and the marina has been closed. In 2026 design should be finalized and construction should commence. The marina should reopen in summer of 2026.
The multi-purpose facility contained an exhibition mall for art, crafts and boat shows, a family picnic and playground area, and an earthen "bowl" with a performance pavilion which had a capacity of 10,000 persons and was home to many annual events, including The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, World of Nations Celebration, Spring Music Festival, Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks on July 4, Planetfest and many more. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra occasionally performed there, as have many nationally known entertainers.
The primary facility was a 2,400-square-foot (220 m2) reversible stage with seating for 3,000 under the large canopy. There was a green room, production office and dressing rooms for performers. The park had full boat docking facilities with 78 boat slips. There were 6 covered picnic shelters and 43 picnic tables, 3 permanent restroom facilities and water fountains, a children's play area, grills, benches & bicycle racks, and security lighting for night use.
The land was part of a tract purchased by the United States Maritime Commission for $1.375 million and utilized by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company to construct 82 Liberty ships during World War II from 1942 to 1945. In 1944 they employed 20,000. The park is located on what was once a landfill, purchased in May 1972 for $1 million by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The present park size is the result of several additions since the initial acquisition in 1972.
Development funding was provided by the City of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Natural Resources, and public broadcasting station WJCT (TV), which leased 8 acres in 1977 to build and operate a community facility.
The project was designed for two phases. Phase 1 consisted of an exhibition mall, family picnic area, playgrounds, and the Performance Pavilion. Florida Governor Bob Graham attended the groundbreaking for the first phase, begun on December 8, 1982 by Mayor Jake Godbold. The pavilion was built by WJCT for approximately $1.4 million, which included $600,000 from Florida National Bank. It was named, the Florida National Pavilion.
Work on Phase 1 was completed in 1984 at a cost of $1 million. Metropolitan Park won the 1986 Governor's Design Award. Phase 2, which included landscaping, paved walkways, lighting, parking, and the entrance, cost another $1 million. Mayor Tommy Hazouri began the enhancements on May 10, 1990 and construction lasted several months.
The Catherine Street Fire Museum was moved to Metro Park property in 1993 but did not open to the public until 2001. In 1995, Marine Fire station 39 relocated from Catherine Street to Metropolitan Park. The JFRD Marine Unit closed at Metropolitan Park in 2024 and is being rebuilt on the south side of the Hart Bridge ramp.
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Metropolitan Park (Florida)
Metropolitan Park is a 18.25-acre (73,900 m2) urban waterfront park and concert venue located between EverBank Stadium and the north bank of the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It is projected to be the eastern terminus of the northbank Jacksonville Riverwalk and "is likely the most legislated, negotiated and studied parcel of land owned by the city." Since 2024 an extensive redesign effort has been underway and the marina has been closed. In 2026 design should be finalized and construction should commence. The marina should reopen in summer of 2026.
The multi-purpose facility contained an exhibition mall for art, crafts and boat shows, a family picnic and playground area, and an earthen "bowl" with a performance pavilion which had a capacity of 10,000 persons and was home to many annual events, including The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, World of Nations Celebration, Spring Music Festival, Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks on July 4, Planetfest and many more. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra occasionally performed there, as have many nationally known entertainers.
The primary facility was a 2,400-square-foot (220 m2) reversible stage with seating for 3,000 under the large canopy. There was a green room, production office and dressing rooms for performers. The park had full boat docking facilities with 78 boat slips. There were 6 covered picnic shelters and 43 picnic tables, 3 permanent restroom facilities and water fountains, a children's play area, grills, benches & bicycle racks, and security lighting for night use.
The land was part of a tract purchased by the United States Maritime Commission for $1.375 million and utilized by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company to construct 82 Liberty ships during World War II from 1942 to 1945. In 1944 they employed 20,000. The park is located on what was once a landfill, purchased in May 1972 for $1 million by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The present park size is the result of several additions since the initial acquisition in 1972.
Development funding was provided by the City of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Natural Resources, and public broadcasting station WJCT (TV), which leased 8 acres in 1977 to build and operate a community facility.
The project was designed for two phases. Phase 1 consisted of an exhibition mall, family picnic area, playgrounds, and the Performance Pavilion. Florida Governor Bob Graham attended the groundbreaking for the first phase, begun on December 8, 1982 by Mayor Jake Godbold. The pavilion was built by WJCT for approximately $1.4 million, which included $600,000 from Florida National Bank. It was named, the Florida National Pavilion.
Work on Phase 1 was completed in 1984 at a cost of $1 million. Metropolitan Park won the 1986 Governor's Design Award. Phase 2, which included landscaping, paved walkways, lighting, parking, and the entrance, cost another $1 million. Mayor Tommy Hazouri began the enhancements on May 10, 1990 and construction lasted several months.
The Catherine Street Fire Museum was moved to Metro Park property in 1993 but did not open to the public until 2001. In 1995, Marine Fire station 39 relocated from Catherine Street to Metropolitan Park. The JFRD Marine Unit closed at Metropolitan Park in 2024 and is being rebuilt on the south side of the Hart Bridge ramp.