Along Jacksonville, Florida's Southbank, a place where play and placemaking intersect with history has taken shape at the St. Johns River Park Playground at Friendship Fountain. Designed around the theme "Exploring the St. Johns River," the playground brings the river's story to life, while Landscape Architects at national multidisciplinary firm Halff advanced the riverfront vision first outlined in the 2018 plans made by landscape architecture and urban design firm SWA. That plan established guidelines for public-space improvements and identified Friendship Park as a priority location for investment and storytelling along the river. The park's 2025 opening builds on the fountain's $8 million 2024 renovation. Together, these investments reinforce the park's role as a civic anchor and a destination for families and visitors alike.

 
Immersive History
Inspired by the 1562 expedition of French Huguenot captain Jean Ribault, the playground's narrative pays homage to Jacksonville's earliest European contact along the St. Johns River. The moment Ribault reached the river on May 1, 1562, is brought to life through a climbable interpretation for ages 5 to 12 of 'La Trinité,' Ribault's vessel, creating a tangible connection between historical storytelling and imaginative play for children. This large ship is paired with a smaller, "broken" ship for children ages 2 to 5. This subtle reference to shipwreck and discovery invites imaginative, age-appropriate exploration while supporting a range of play experiences.
Surrounding the two structures are sculptures of an alligator, a frog, a turtle, and a climbable tree that connect children to the river's ecology through play. A canoe feature and swing set add familiar, open-ended fun, while rubber surfacing and musical elements enhance accessibility and sensory engagement. Two signature details deepen the sense of place: the Home Tree, rigged with ropes to evoke a cypress, and cargo steppers that reinterpret early expedition crates as durable balancing challenges. Together, these features transform local history and landscape into interactive experiences that inspire climbing, coordination, and imaginative storytelling.
The playground sits within a landscape designed for comfort and community. Shaded pergola seating, abundant benches and circular seating with integrated speakers create places to linger and listen, tying the play area to the fountain's nightly shows and the broader Southbank Riverwalk experience. The park program also includes a restroom building design to reflect early settlement architecture, pavilions themed after the architectural style of the local Timucuan people, picnic areas, and interpretive gardens, building a day to evening destination grounded in Northeast Florida's cultural heritage.
Mere steps away, Friendship Fountain - which opened in 1965 and was once the tallest fountain of its kind - has been updated with modern infrastructure. The fountain now features more than 100 nozzles and jets, along with a waterfall wall that brings visitors closer to the spectacle. Operating daily, weather permitting, it features nightly choreographed light and music shows at 7, 8, and 9 p.m., an enhancement adopted by the city following the 2024 reopening. Circular seating, LED light poles with integrated speakers, and new walkways enhance the viewing experience and connect seamlessly to the adjacent playground amenities.

Life Along The Riverbank
The playground debuted during JaxParks Eggstravaganza on April 19, 2025, a family event that celebrated the park's opening and the fountain's fresh upgrades, drawing crowds to the Southbank and signaling momentum for continued riverfront investment and programming. As envisioned in the 2018 strategy, the park now threads together history, ecology and recreation, translating Jacksonville's relationship with the St. Johns River into everyday experiences for children, caregivers and visitors.