In his editorial, “Goal for Riverfront Plaza should be to get it right and get it done,” Florida Times‑Union columnist Mark Woods calls on Jacksonville’s leaders to reconsider plans to build a 17-story luxury tower on one acre of Riverfront Plaza—a pivotal piece of downtown’s limited public waterfront. With a City Council vote on the proposal expected later this month, Woods argues the city must prioritize creating a true signature park over turning public land into private development.

Woods reflects on Riverfront Plaza’s original vision as a “world-class” park and criticizes the shift toward high-rise construction. While proponents—including Gateway Jax, the Downtown Investment Authority, Mayor Donna Deegan, and JAX Chamber—say the tower would activate the space and generate up to $700,000 a year for park maintenance, Woods sees a troubling tradeoff: sacrificing scarce public green space in a city already spending less on parks than its peers.

He points to examples like New York’s Central Park and St. Petersburg’s preserved waterfront as proof that great public spaces deliver long-term economic and quality-of-life benefits without being parceled off for private use. Given that Riverfront Plaza is only 7 acres—and part of a larger vision for a connected linear park stretching along the Northbank—Woods emphasizes the importance of protecting it as a public commons.

Joining that call is Riverfront Parks Now, a coalition of local nonprofit organizations. The group urges the city to consider a third option beyond a tower or a vacant lawn: a low-rise activation similar to Tampa’s Armature Works or Sparkman Wharf. Their proposal would offer food, drink, and community amenities in a design that complements the park’s scale—without the massive taxpayer incentives or infrastructure relocation required for a high-rise. They also support acquiring the Interline building for UF’s campus without giving up Riverfront Plaza land in return.

Woods closes by stressing that Jacksonville doesn’t need to rush the decision—it needs to get it right. The Riverfront Plaza site, he argues, should be the centerpiece of a resilient, inclusive waterfront, not a testing ground for luxury development. With the council’s vote looming, the editorial encourages residents and leaders to consider what kind of legacy this rare public space should leave.

Now is the time to decide whether we want our riverfront to reflect private luxury — or a lasting investment in public space, community identity, and ecological resilience. As the City Council prepares to vote, the stakes are clear: this isn’t just a land deal. It’s a defining moment for who the riverfront is really for.

Mayor Donna Deegan, once seen as a moderate Democrat, has turned out to be more pro-construction and developer-aligned than many expected from either party. While her support for growth may be politically shrewd, it’s worth asking whether her approach is right for the long-term legacy of Jacksonville’s riverfront parks.