Jacksonville Unveils Four New Parks Including Dedicated Central Bark Dog Park

City Council Member Joe Carlucci unveiled plans to create four new parks in Southbank and San Marco, including a dedicated off‑leash dog park tentatively named "Central Bark" planned off Broadcast Place near the JEA substation and RiversEdge. Carlucci presented the projects at a recent community meeting and framed the sites as additions to a neighborhood that lacks sizeable shared green space.

Carlucci told neighbors he has asked city staff to refine designs after feedback, saying, "I have requested our Parks Department to go back to the drawing board and come up with something the community will appreciate and support! Specifically, we will be looking for ways to improve the current location with lighting, bathroom improvements, and more gathering spaces. Thanks again for your feedback and engagement!" The meeting was described in local coverage as a Thursday night community session where officials answered questions about locations and amenities.

Beyond Central Bark, the other three sites are mapped under the I‑95 overpass off Broadcast Place and next to the Fuller Warren Bridge, locations Carlucci called largely unused. He noted the construction process should be relatively straightforward since most of the sites are already "blank spaces" requiring minimal demolition, a point officials said could speed early staging and site preparation.

On finances and timing, Carlucci said the money for the projects is already in the city's capital improvement plans for the next few years, but city officials also emphasized that construction timelines and detailed budgets still need to be finalized and will be released at future community meetings. Carlucci expressed an expectation that all four parks could be finished by the end of 2030, a target that city staff cautioned will depend on the final design, permitting, and contracting schedule.

Local dog owners voiced immediate support for a dedicated off‑leash space. Louise Baron described the everyday pinch: "This little guy likes to run and play and she likes to play with other people. She misses that, and she doesn’t want to be on a leash all the time," Baron said, reflecting demand in District 5 for more dog-friendly recreation; Carlucci pointed out there is nothing like this currently in his district.

The Southbank and San Marco projects arrive amid an active downtown parks buildout. City programs and I Dig Jax plans include a second, $46 million phase slated to begin by the end of 2025 with a beer garden, rain garden and a bicycle and pedestrian link to the Main Street Bridge; a $6 million Music Heritage Garden is under construction from Water to Hogan streets with walkways shaped like musical notes; and the St. Johns River Park work near Friendship Fountain is slated for completion in early to spring 2026. Mayor Donna Deegan has called the riverfront parks "game‑changers" that will "improve quality of life, draw more people to our city, and support economic growth."

Next steps for the Southbank and San Marco sites include formal design work, final budget line items, and permitting. City officials plan additional community meetings to release timelines and budgets; until those milestones are set, Carlucci's 2030 completion expectation will remain contingent on the design and procurement process.