A park project that has been in the making since 2002 has finally opened in the Tinseltown area on Jacksonville’s Southside.
Touchton Road Park has 42.5 acres of land that includes parking, a walking trail and a large retention pond. About seven acres of the land have been developed for the park.
Although the park has opened, it isn’t finished yet.
“The playground installation will be finished this summer,” said City of Jacksonville spokeswoman Marjorie Dennis, who added that will be the final component.
The land was originally donated by the Wyngate Forest developers along with $125,000. Wyngate Forest is across the street from park.
The city cleared the land and added a retention pond with a fountain years ago, but it didn't have the money needed to complete the project.
That finally changed last year when $550,000 was earmarked for the park’s construction.
The original plan for the park included a skate park and racquetball court, but those ideas remain unfunded for now.
City Council Vice President Scott Wilson, who represents District 4, told WJCT News in October that even if funding can be secured, he would first want to make sure that’s still what area residents want, noting a lot of new homes have been built nearby since the idea was originally floated.
Additional Information
JaxParks Touchton Road Park website
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
