Unity Plaza unveils updated plans for urban park

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Unityplazajax.com

Andrew Thurlow

Reporter- Jacksonville Business Journal

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Although Unity Plaza won't be officially opening until March, it will start offering events open the public before then, kicking off with the Jacksonville Holiday Bash on Dec. 11.

The celebration, sponsored by key North Florida Building Industry Associations, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., will include a "Rock Your Ugly Sweater Celebrity Fashion Show" with numerous city officials in attendance, including Downtown Investment Authority CEO Aundra Wallace, Moody Chisholm of St. Vincent's Health and Paul Astleford of Visit Jacksonville.

The event will raise funds for Unity Plaza and other designated children's charities including PACE Center for Girls, Hero Bakers, and Don't Miss A Beat.

The Unity Plaza site adjacent to Hallmark Partner's 220 Riverside development is not just another public park, said Alex Coley, principal of Hallmark Partners Inc., but is meant to be a central gathering place for residents and visitors.

"Jacksonville is about to get its own Central Park," Coley said during a tour of the new development. "The idea is based on the designs of successful parks like Bryant Park in New York City and Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland.".

The non-profit — also called Unity Plaza — will have a corporate office and classroom at the base of 220 Riverside, offering community engagement activities like yoga and art classes.

Unity Plaza park, which is the result of a public private partnership with the city, will feature an outdoor amphitheatre, a built-in state-of-the-art sound system and a 100-yard viewing deck that when finished will seat more than 2,000 people.

Hallmark Partners and the city have invested about $10 million, and the nonprofit is looking to raise more money to continue building out the site.

Andrew covers real estate, retail and sports