On May 15, the city of Jacksonville approved site plans for city planners to develop an outdoor music park behind the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts at 300 W. Water St.
Music Heritage Park (so-named by the Downtown Investment Authority) will be a continuation of downtown park development, sitting between Pearl and Hogan streets, just west of Riverfront Plaza.
In the works since 2020, there’s been a number of voices involved, so the DIA has taken its time to listen to the perspective of a variety of stakeholders.
This includes, of course, operators at the Jacksonville Symphony who offered perspective on the “profound role symphonic music has played in shaping our city’s cultural identity,” chief marketing officer Tori Fusinaz told the Business Journal.
“As we mark our 75th Anniversary season, we’re especially honored to see the Symphony’s impact represented in such a meaningful way. We hope this space becomes a lasting source of inspiration, sparking curiosity and a love of music for generations to come,” Fusinaz said.
Situated behind the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, design for Music Heritage Park (from Hanson Professional Services, Inc.) shows a number of musical nods to this context.
The melodious proposal includes a sprawling riverfront complex accessed by sidewalks, seating areas and benches that meander by musically-themed stations.
There are at least eight musically-notated stops along the walkway for folks to relax and be surrounded by music. From a bird’s eye view, these stations are, appropriately, shaped like musical notes.
Musical Heritage Park is, in fact, punctuated by a large treble clef through its center, like a Cupid’s arrow through a heart.
Hanson Professional Services oversaw this design in collaboration with DIA input along with additional civic and public voices.
While permitting will still be in the works for Music Heritage Park, Acon Construction Co. will be permitted to begin construction as this is a design-build project — a construction plan where the design and construction phases are combined under a single contract with a single entity; in this case, the city of Jacksonville.
By Matt Denis, Reporter
Jacksonville Business Journal