Jacksonville Is Getting Into The Wave Pool Arms Race

Surfer.com | 4 October, 2024

Consistent surf in Florida with the flip of the switch? Yes, please. Announced this week, the Jacksonville Surf Park, a planned surf park in wave-starved Jacksonville just took one step closer to becoming a reality. The project, which will utilize Wavegarden technology to create its waves, is being spearheaded by developers Aventuur, which is fronted by former WSL warrior Ace Buchan, and was founded by Nicholas Edelman and Richard Duff.

A press release explains that a site for the surf park has been secured in “eTown, a masterplanned community located off State Road 9B on the Southside of Duval County.”

“We met our local partners in March 2022, and admire the passion they have for both surf and the city of Jacksonville,” Edelman explained in the press release.

The team at Aventuur isn’t just interested in making waves in the area, but creating a genuine surf experience that reflects the area’s culture and environment. They see their developments as opportunities for “blue health,” including surf therapy, community activations and youth programs. From beginners to pros, inclusiveness is a large part of their business model.

“At Aventuur, we truly believe in the positive impact these developments can have on the health and wellbeing of a community, and the enjoyment that surfing can generate. In delivering the Jacksonville Surf Park, we look forward to supporting grassroots surfing, working with charitable organizations, and building on our relationships with local government to help them increase employment opportunities and improve the quality of life for residents,” Edelman continued.

But don’t wax your board just yet. The project still has to go through regulatory and permitting processes before they can break ground. Construction is planned to begin sometime in 2026 with the facility opening to the public at the end of 2027.

As salt water waves go, Jacksonville’s more dependable spots include the shifting sandbars of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach, as well as the Jax pier. The Jacksonville Surf Park would help the locals be considerably less dependent on hurricane swells.