Rails to Trails Conservancy has named Groundwork Jacksonville’s CEO, Kay Ehas as the Nation’s 2025 Trail Champion. Ehas is recognized for her community-driven approach in developing the Emerald Trail, Jacksonville, Florida’s 30-mile trail system, building social, economic and environmental resilience regionwide.
More than 800 runners, walkers (and rollers in strollers) came out to support Groundwork Jacksonville at the 6th Annual VyStar Emerald Trail 5K/10K & 1-Mile Fun Run presented by JTC Running on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Young and young at heart enjoyed the scenic route along the Emerald Trail LaVilla Link and S-Line Rail Trail.
Groundwork Jacksonville hosted Celebrate Trails Day Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the LaVilla Link Butterfly Garden. This FREE family event was made possible by Baptist Health and the Community Forestry Program of the USDA Forest Service.
The newly completed 1,100-foot-long mural along the Park Street Bridge on the Emerald Trail LaVilla Link celebrates the rich history of Jacksonville’s LaVilla and Brooklyn neighborhoods. Led by artist Overstreet Ducasse, in collaboration with artists Grace Bio, Dustin Harewood, and Alexi McMonigle, the mural is a tribute to the past, encapsulating the essence of LaVilla and Brooklyn’s cultural legacy.
Steps and story time come together on the LaVilla Link of the Emerald Trail, thanks to a new, rotating installation called StoryWalk®, which features a series of 20 mounted displays depicting sequential pages from a children’s picture book. Ultimately, the purpose is to bring families together to foster connection, movement and early literacy. The new StoryWalk® project was made possible by Baptist Health and is supported by the Library Foundation of Jacksonville and Groundwork Jacksonville.
City of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas, and Baptist Health President and CEO Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, hosted the ribbon cutting and official opening of the LaVilla Link, the first segment of the much-anticipated Emerald Trail. Hundreds of community members joined in the celebration at the foot of the Park Street Bridge near the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center to commemorate this community milestone.
The Emerald Trail LaVilla Link is now a featured route in the Art Bikes Jax App. It is free to download for IOS and Android users. In addition to turn-by-turn…
“Building a healthier community happens one neighborhood and one individual at a time,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “We chose to make a strategic investment in the LaVilla Link because we believe it will help people move more, connect more, learn more and enjoy more – all of which are important factors for helping foster greater health and well-being.”Â
The 4th Annual VyStar Emerald 5K/10K presented by JTC Running and 1st Place Sports was the biggest yet, with more than 750 runners, walkers and cyclists hitting the streets downtown,…
City of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and environmental nonprofit Groundwork Jacksonville hosted the groundbreaking of the inaugural segment of the Emerald Trail on Tues., Aug., 24. Construction of the project,…