The first link of a planned 30-mile Emerald Trail that will connect historic urban neighborhoods to Downtown, the St. Johns River and other waterways began with some ceremonial shoveling early Tuesday.About a year after Tuesday's groundbreaking, the LaVilla Link will open with landscaped walkways, upgraded playground and parks and protected bicycle lanes connecting the Brooklyn and LaVilla communities to the S-Line Rail Trail in the Railyard District.
The city and Groundwork Jacksonville co-hosted the groundbreaking on the inaugural 1.3-mile LaVilla Link segment on Johnson Street between West Church and West Duval streets, according to WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union.
Groundwork CEO Kay Ehas said architect Henry Klutho's idea for what was called the Emerald Necklace 100 years ago — a ring of parks, trails, greenspace and creeks across downtown — has come quickly true.
An expanded version of this story that includes additional renderings and a video is at Jacksonville.com.
