Neptune Beach council to workshop Jarbo Park redesign after debate over volleyball courts and parking

City staff presented three concept plans for a long-planned Jarbo Park renovation and asked the council for direction on whether to add one or two fenced sand-volleyball courts, reconfigure parking, and install traffic-calming features.

Park staff said the largest concept would accommodate up to four courts (removing about 21 parking spaces) while smaller options would add one court and preserve more parking and open space. Staff also described the site’s current use (about 121 parking spots) and said the field functions as a staging area during emergency responses.

A string of public commenters — local club players and high-school athletes — urged additional courts, saying demand outstrips supply and that courts would serve community and Fletcher High School teams. Park staff and several councilors said the city has received grant funding inquiries and that design choices could affect the city’s ability to host competitions.

Councilors debated tradeoffs: some urged adding two courts to meet competitive needs; others flagged lost parking, impacts on family use of the park and late-night activity, and the need for traffic calming (tabletop crossings, roundabouts). Several council members suggested staging options, programing the space, and preserving flexibility in the right-of-way along Florida Boulevard.

Rather than approve a final design, council asked staff to tweak concepts (including street-design options and clarification of parking impacts), prepare scenarios for one and two-court options and present them at a workshop on March 16 so the public can weigh in before a final decision.

Council emphasized a desire to balance recreational programming, neighborhood impacts and parking availability before committing to a specific layout.