Hogans Creek

Map of Hogan’s Creek

Hogans Creek

As part of the ongoing effort to develop the Emerald Trail project in Jacksonville’s urban core, Groundwork Jacksonville has partnered with the City of Jacksonville (COJ) on the Hogans Creek restoration project. Hogans Creek is listed as the #2 priority in the COJ’s Local Mitigation Strategy—right behind McCoys Creek—and identified as high risk for flooding and storm surge.

Hogans Creek is a 2.6-mile tidal and freshwater creek that begins at the CSX Railroad located just north of the S-Line Rail Trail and flows south to the St. Johns River at the Shipyards.

Like McCoys Creek, Hogans Creek suffers from years of pollution, failing infrastructure and development that has encroached on its natural flood plain. As a result, Hogans Creek floods Klutho and Springfield Parks, as well as adjacent streets, homes and businesses along much of the creek during even moderate rainfall.

COJ’s Master Stormwater Management Plan (MSMP) identifies 121 residential and commercial structures within the special flood hazard area. A number of these are critical facilities, including Florida State College at Jacksonville’s downtown campus, UF Health, the VA clinic, Duval County Department of Health’s central public health clinic, Fire Station No. 1, railways, and several Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) facilities, including water and sewer plants.

Groundwork selected environmental engineering and architectural design firm Halff, with partners Ecosystems Planning & Restoration (EPR), Alpha Envirotech Consulting, and Ghiotto & Associates. The design is currently at 60%.

The stream restoration work will restore 1,300 feet of daylighted creek including 24 acres of wetland habitat and 1,900 acres of upland buffer.

The goals of the project are:

Ecological restoration to repair damage and degradation to the creek
Mitigate flooding
Improve water quality
Increase habitat for wildlife
Create creek access for active and passive recreation
Build resilience through nature-based solutions and green infrastructure

In addition to creek restoration, the project includes the construction of the Emerald Trail adjacent to the creek, pedestrian bridges and improvements to adjacent parks.

Since 2021, Groundwork Jacksonville has been actively engaging residents of Springfield, Historic Eastside and the Cathedral District, as well as businesses along the creek to discuss the project. Groundwork has hosted Task Force meetings, creek walks, community meetings and public events to garner community input that is being incorporated into the preliminary design.

Key priorities heard from the community were to:

Reduce flooding
Protect historic park features designed by Henry Klutho including the Balustrades
Road closures and additional parking
Maintain or enhance the current amount of open park space