JAX’S NEW MET PARK MARINA IS OFFICIALLY OPEN! Hundreds of community leaders, local officials and members of North Florida’s boating community gathered this morning to celebrate the grand opening of the Jacksonville Shipyards’ newest public spaces, including the Met Park Marina, Riverwalk extension, marina support building and Shipyards event lawn.

JFRD’s fireboat put on an incredible water-cannon display before Mayor Donna Deegan, Jaguars President Mark Lamping, Parks Director Daryl Joseph, F3 Marina’s Scott Schmidt and other project leaders officially cut the ribbon.

The new marina features 78 slips, $5-per-hour dock-and-dine access for up to four hours, overnight reservations, marine gas and diesel, power, water, Wi-Fi, pump-out service and a new Ship Shop. It can even accommodate vessels up to 400 feet long, creating an entirely new way to arrive Downtown for Jaguars games, concerts and major events.

We also got a sneak peek inside Asado Life, the highly anticipated riverfront restaurant taking shape inside the marina support building. The indoor-outdoor restaurant will feature live-fire, Argentinian-inspired cooking, waterfront patio seating and special experiences surrounding Jaguars games and concerts. It is going to be an incredible addition to the Sports & Entertainment District.

This opening is another major milestone for the larger Jacksonville Shipyards transformation being shaped by the City of Jacksonville, the Jaguars, Iguana Investments and Shanna Collective. Next door, the 170-room Four Seasons Hotel and 26 private residences, envisioned by Shanna Collective, have already topped out, secured $360 million in construction financing earlier this year and are targeting a summer 2027 debut.

After decades of talking about the potential of Jacksonville’s riverfront, it is exciting to finally watch these new destinations open and connect our waterfront, Downtown and Sports & Entertainment District.

Who is ready to pull up by boat for a Jaguars game?