Scenic Jacksonville

06/12/2026

We’re excited to partner with the Public Trust Law for Conservation as they welcome their intern, James Staman Jr., to the team.

As part of his internship with the Public Trust, James will be conducting research for Scenic Jacksonville on tree ordinances and best practices from cities across the country.

His work will help inform conversations around how Jacksonville plans for and integrates trees into public spaces, including potential updates to city code and the Land Development Procedures Manual.

James is a law student at Lewis Clark College of Law with a passion for environmental law, wildlife photography, and the wild places that make Northeast Florida so special.

“I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Scenic Jacksonville on this project," James said. "Trees are a vital component of green infrastructure, and promoting their integration into developmental plans is essential for the well-being of both local communities and the environment. I look forward to making a meaningful impact on our incredible city!”

We’re grateful for this partnership and look forward to sharing more about James’ research throughout the summer.

📸Wildlife photos taken by James himself!

06/10/2026

Good design can be bold. 💫

Architect Taylor Hardwick spent five years ensuring the design and construction of the Haydon Burns Library in Downtown Jacksonville was just right, finishing in 1965. A facade of glass, tile mosaic, and hard angles, the 126,000 sq foot building was a stunning statement of architecture and detail. The library moved a few blocks away in 2005, and the building was largely shuddered until 2015, when The Jessie opened its doors - fully renovated in spectacular fashion, but keeping its authentic Hardwick aesthetic.

Bold. Historic. Authentic. 📍JAX, FLA.

📸

06/02/2026

Did you know the planning decisions made over a century ago still shape Springfield's environmental character today? 🌳

On June 6, join Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR)'s Historic Springfield TreeWalk: Integrated Urban Ecology, a walking tour exploring how trees, parks, streets, buildings, and public spaces work together as one connected neighborhood ecosystem.

The tour is led by certified planner and landscape architect Daniel Ashworth, Jr., a member of our Built Environment Design Committee, and will highlight how thoughtful design can build more resilient, livable communities.

ASL interpretation will be provided. 🤟
📅 June 6 | 9 to 11 AM
📍 1321 Main Street Jacksonville

We'd love to see you there. Event details here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/26728878796704360

05/28/2026

We're so excited to celebrate board member Max Spann (pictured left in first photo), who contributed to the landscape architecture team behind Jacksonville's newly opened Riverfront Music Garden!

Located along the Northbank Riverwalk at 300 Water Street, this beautiful $7 million public space honors Jacksonville's extraordinary musical heritage with a Walk of Fame, musical playscapes, and interactive art. It now connects the Riverwalk all the way from the Hyatt to the Riverside Arts Market.

It's the kind of people-centered, community-building design that Scenic Jacksonville has championed for decades and we're proud to have one of our own as part of the team that made it happen.

Our May newsletter has even more to celebrate. Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/scenicjax/april2026newsletter-17458707?e=34ead605ea

05/27/2026

Jacksonville doesn't always get credit for its bike infrastructure, but there are places in this city where the design is starting to make a difference.

🟢 The Emerald Trail: a 30-mile connected greenway network in progress linking 14 neighborhoods, 8 parks, and thousands of residents to downtown. Sections are already open and rideable.

🚲 Art Bikes Jax: Jacksonville's bike-share program with docked stations across downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

🛤️ The Emerald Trail Rail Corridor: the converted rail-to-trail segment through the urban core offers a glimpse of what connected, low-stress cycling can look like here.

🌉 Northbank & Southbank Riverwalk: paved, flat, and scenic — a genuinely accessible place to ride alongside the St. Johns River.

🏙️ Downtown protected lanes: several blocks of downtown now have painted and partially protected lanes as part of an ongoing effort to make the urban core more multimodal.

There's a long way to go before Jacksonville is a truly bikeable city. But there's progress worth celebrating and building on.

Tag a route you love riding in Jacksonville. ⬇️

05/20/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to spend time outdoors this Memorial Day weekend?

Head to Memorial Park in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood, sitting right along the St. Johns River.

Born from deep community gratitude after World War I, the park opened on Christmas Day 1924, paid for by the citizens of greater Jacksonville. Today it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and partly serves as a living tribute to Florida servicemembers.

At the heart of the park stands "Spiritualized Life," a Beaux Arts bronze sculpture by C. Adrian Pillars, named a WWI Centennial Memorial by the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission. Pillars described his vision as "the spirit of victory — immortality attained not through death, but deeds."

The park is full of hidden stories waiting to be discovered. The Memorial Park Association has created an interactive park map at highlighting the park's history. You can find a tribute to Ninah May Holden Cu**er, the Riverside philanthropist whose riverside home eventually became the The Cu**er Museum of Art & Gardens; the story behind the bronze eagle sculptures crafted by Jacksonville artist Diane LaFond Insetta; the Olmsted Brothers landscape legacy (sons of the designer of Central Park,); and the rich flora and fauna woven throughout the park.

Find the map here: https://memparkjax.org/park-map/

Plus, on May 25th at 6 p.m., enjoy a free Memorial Day concert and picnic, made possible by the Memorial Park Association and the City of Jacksonville, Florida - Government.

Photo Description: Park in full bloom by Mark Krancer

05/14/2026

May 8th marks the start of National Public Gardens Week, a week highlighting the beauty of our parks and public spaces. These spaces are shaped by the vision and expertise of landscape architects and designers use their vision and expertise to shape these places for the community.

Last month, the City of Jacksonville, Florida - Government proclaimed April as Landscape Architecture Month in honor of the contributions these professionals make to the health, beauty, and sustainability of our city.

At Scenic Jacksonville, we're fortunate to have many of these very experts on our board and committees. A huge thank you to board members Susan Grandin, Lad Hawkins, Max Spann (landscape architects), Gayandrial 'Ivy' Henderson and Karen McCombs (landscape designers), along with committee members Fred Pope and Daniel Ashworth, Jr., AICP, RLA, ASLA (landscape architects), for everything you bring to this mission!

Do you have a favorite public park? Tell us below in the comments!

05/13/2026

Big day for public space in Downtown Jax!

📍 Riverfront Music Garden opening and Northbank Riverwalk re-opening this morning, with ribbon cutting at 11am, 300 N. Water Street.

📍 Riverfront Plaza Phase 2️⃣ open house and public input opportunity from 4-6:30p, 2 Independent Drive.

📸 City of Jacksonville,

05/08/2026

🌳 As the weather warms and we spend more time outside, we notice the trees growing greener and appreciate the cool, shady relief that they provide.

But tree canopies offer more than just shade. They directly affect air quality, temperature, mental health, and overall quality of life. Jacksonville's fight to protect that canopy runs deep.

In the 1990s, a group of passionate citizens called Citizens for Tree Preservation decided that Jacksonville's trees deserved robust protection. Led by attorney and Scenic Jax founder Bill Brinton, they didn't just ask the city to do better — they changed the rules entirely.

After years of advocacy and civic persistence, they successfully amended the Jacksonville City Charter with the Tree Protection Amendment, requiring preservation of specimen trees and mitigation when protected trees are removed during development.

That amendment has since generated more than $21 million in two Tree Mitigation Funds, fueling efforts to replenish our canopy for future generations.

Bill spent over 30 years fighting for a more beautiful, more livable Jacksonville. He passed away in 2017, but his legacy grows with every tree still standing.

Every action counts. Want to learn more? Visit our website via the link in our bio.

And if you're ready to dig in, we encourage you to explore two incredible organizations doing the work on the ground: Greenscape of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

🌍 It’s Earth Day! Join City of Jacksonville, Florida - Government TODAY at James Weldon Johnson Park from 11 AM – 2 PM for fun, resources, and tips on energy conservation, water savings, and sustainable living. 🌱♻️🍃