Plans for the Emerald Trail include 30 miles of native plants, shade trees, bioswales and gardens. Maintaining the plantsā€™ health and the beauty of the Emerald Trail is a priority for Groundwork Jacksonville and the inspiration for the Emerald Trail Stewards Program.
Emerald Trail Stewards are a dedicated team of horticulture professionals responsible for maintaining the landscaping and green infrastructure along the Emerald Trail. Our team includes FNGLA-certified horticulturists and ISA-certified arborists. In addition to their horticultural work, the Stewards actively engage the community through volunteer workdays focused on a variety of projectsā€”from tree planting and trail beautification to building turtle barges. They also work with volunteers on monthly cleanups along the trail and Hogans Creek, helping to keep these natural spaces clean and thriving.
The Stewardsā€™ work ensures the safety and comfort of trail users, maintains a high standard of landscape and infrastructure appearance, and promotes the long-term sustainability and health of the plants and natural systems. This program ensures that this historic investment in downtown is properly cared for and preserved for future generations.
For more information, contact Garner Cox, Emerald Trail Stewards Manager at Garner@groundworkjacksonville.org.