The City of Jacksonville has been on a mission to make downtown a more vibrant place to live, play, and explore—and one of the most exciting initiatives has been the creation of fun, family-friendly parks along the riverfront. With the recent opening of the new park where The Landing once stood, it’s safe to say they’re heading in the right direction.

My little crew and I set out on an expedition-style adventure to check out Jacksonville’s newest downtown parks, and here’s our honest review.

The Views are Everything

The three newest parks are all situated along the St. Johns River, offering incredible views of downtown Jacksonville and the water. One of our favorite things? You can easily walk the riverfront path from the St. John’s River park at Friendship Fountain all the way to the River’s Edge Gym Park.

River’s Edge might just be our favorite view—it sits almost directly across from the stadium, making it a pretty cool spot for photos, sunsets, and letting the kids burn off energy with a skyline backdrop.

Each Park has it’s own Personality

One thing I really love is that no two parks feel the same:

• Riverfront Plaza Park is packed with fun slides, bridges, and a splash-worthy water play area—perfect for younger kids.
• River’s Edge Gym Park is all about climbing, balance, and strength, with interactive elements that feel more like an outdoor fitness playground.
• The St. John’s River Park features a large ship that actually rocks, picnic tables, and plenty of space for imaginative play.

Each park also includes seating areas where parents can relax, supervise, and even enjoy a quick lunch while the kids play.

Bathrooms Matter(Parents, you get it)

Let’s talk about the real MVP: bathrooms.

Both Riverfront Plaza and St. Johns River Park offer bathrooms, water fountains, and thoughtful amenities that make it easy to stay longer. The Gym Park currently has temporary bathrooms while renovations continue, but it still includes water fountains, a bike repair station with an air pump, and even a small water fountain just for pets.

So Much More to Explore

Beyond the playgrounds themselves, there’s so much to do along the riverfront. You can grab food from nearby local restaurants, rent a scooter for a fun ride, walk the scenic paths, or explore nature trails along the water.

Don’t just take our word for it—go explore one of these downtown Jacksonville parks and let us know what you think!

And if you want to stay in the loop on family-friendly adventures and exciting things happening around the city, be sure to follow @niftymama_ and @jaxparks on Instagram