New Parks and Dog Park Planned for Jacksonville's Southbank

City Council Member Joe Carlucci discusses upcoming projects, including a new off-leash dog park called "Central Bark".

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Jacksonville's Southbank and San Marco areas are set to receive four new parks, including a dedicated dog park called "Central Bark" off Broadcast Place. City Council Member Joe Carlucci held a community meeting to discuss the upcoming projects, which also include parks planned under the I-95 overpass and next to the Fuller Warren Bridge.

Why it matters

The new parks, especially the off-leash dog park, will provide much-needed green space and recreation options for residents in the urban Southbank and San Marco neighborhoods, where many live in apartments or condos without private yards.

The details

The new Central Bark Dog Park will be located off Broadcast Place near the JEA substation and RiversEdge, an area Carlucci says currently lacks any similar dog-friendly amenities. The other three parks are planned for under the I-95 overpass off Broadcast Place and next to the Fuller Warren Bridge. Carlucci noted the construction process should be relatively straightforward since most of the sites are already "blank spaces" requiring minimal demolition.

  • The community meeting to discuss the new parks was held on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Joe Carlucci

A Jacksonville City Council Member representing District 5, which includes the Southbank and San Marco neighborhoods.

Louise Baron

A local resident who walks her dog often along the Southbank Riverwalk and is looking forward to the new off-leash dog park.

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What they’re saying

“To my knowledge, there's not one, but it's a very, very, highly requested thing, and especially again in those urban areas, people have dogs and they're in apartments or they're in condos; they don't have yards.”

— Joe Carlucci, City Council Member (firstcoastnews.com)

“This little guy likes to run and play and she likes to play with other people. She misses that, and she doesn't want to be on a leash all the time.”

— Louise Baron (firstcoastnews.com)

What’s next

The construction timelines and budgets for the new parks projects still need to be finalized, with more details to be shared at future community meetings.

The takeaway

The new parks, especially the off-leash dog park, will provide much-needed green space and recreation options for residents in the dense, urban Southbank and San Marco neighborhoods, enhancing the quality of life for both people and their four-legged companions.