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Public calls for St. Johns River boat‑ramp dredging and trailer parking; Parks outlines grant timeline and design changes
Summary
A public commenter urged additional trailer parking and dredging at the St. Johns River boat ramp; Parks Department staff described a grant‑timed dredging project (construction expected 2027) and parking reconfiguration under the Acosta Bridge to retain and expand trailer capacity.
A public commenter who has worked on the St. Johns River boat ramp for several years told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on June 12 that the ramp is unusable at low tide, needs extension and needs exclusive trailer parking under the I‑95 underpass adjacent to the ramp.
Blake Reterbusch (spelled Reterbusch in the meeting transcript) asked the commission to consider advanced funds for dredging and to reserve parking under the interstate for boat‑trailer parking. He said low tides prevent launching and relaunching at the ramp and that floating docks for staging remain needed.
Brian Burkett of the Parks Department answered that the ramp and its surroundings are part of a larger downtown dredging project currently in design and permitting. Burkett said the city will apply for construction funds in 2026 and, if funded, the dredge work would likely occur in 2027 — tying project timing to grant cycles. He added that the wooden boardwalk adjacent to the ramp has been rebuilt and is open.
On parking, Burkett said the redevelopment of the nearby River City Brewing site removed the original entrance and parking; the negotiated redevelopment will relocate access and parking under the Acosta Bridge. Parks currently maintains 13 spaces at the lot; Burkett said staff have identified an additional bay under the bridge where removing wheel stops could create flexible spaces that would be usable for boat trailers when needed and for cars at other times. He said full redesign of the parking area would be expensive because of bridge support piles, but that the department had identified a practical way to increase trailer capacity and would put the design to bid in coming months.
Burkett said parking and access are a Public Works/DIA project (with Parks involvement) and that dredging timing is constrained by grant cycles.
No formal action was taken; the commission heard the public comment and staff update and directed staff to continue coordination with the project team.
