Last updated on April 22, 2022

The Community Redevelopment Agency approved advisability in July 2019 and a budget amendment in September 2019 to fund a feasibility study for a pedestrian pier to connect Veterans Memorial and Gemini Parks

In January 2020 a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised to conduct a Feasibility and Conceptual Design Study. Taylor Engineering, Jacksonville, Florida, was selected in March 2020 to do the study. A contract with Taylor Engineering was signed in July 2020.

In February of 2021 Taylor Engineering presented the Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design to the CRA. Based on the presentation, the CRA recommended moving forward to have a contract for a final design of the presented Concept #1.

At the May 2021 CRA meeting the CRA and City Council approved an award of contract for Taylor Engineering to provide a final design of the Park Connecting Pedestrian Pier at a cost of $92,833. The CRA has set $300,000 aside in the Draft 2022-2023 Community Redevelopment Agency budget for the project.

The parks are separated by an inlet that requires visitors to back track to visit both parks. If found feasible to construct, the pier will meet the CRA’s Plan goal of connecting the City’s parks and l providing a water front attraction for residents and visitors to view rocket launches.

Sixty percent plans have been completed and the plans have been submitted to the permitting agencies (Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Environmental Protection, and the St. Johns River Water Management Company). The project will be brought back to the CRA and City Council for consideration after the permitting agencies have completed their reviews.