While Jacksonville has beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, it now can expect an inland surf park at eTown in South Jacksonville.
The city is reviewing civil engineering plans for Aventuur, a company with offices in Australia and Los Angeles, to build Jacksonville Surf Park at eTown.
Prosser Prime AE is the civil engineer for the project on 55.27 acres at 11374 Etown Parkway, off of Florida 9B.
The eTown developer, The PARC Group, announced Oct. 1 on etownjax.com/news that global developer Aventuur and “an experienced group of local partners” announced that a world-class destination is coming soon to eTown.
“The park will provide waves, surf instruction, fitness training and physical recovery tailored to suit all levels, from first-timers and junior surfers through to elite athletes. Mental wellness, water safety, resilience and surf therapy programs will further encourage guests to develop healthy minds alongside healthy bodies,” it says.
Plans submitted
Pending approvals, construction is expected to start in 2026 and open to the public in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Plans submitted Sept. 30 show Jax Surf Park with surrounding restaurants and retail space, condos, apartments and “ecosystems” comprising supporting structures of a surf academy, wellness studio, conference rooms and more uses.
“A high-quality site has been secured in eTown,” the announcement says. The eTown master-planned community is off of Florida 9B in South Jacksonville.
“The Jacksonville Surf Park will deliver a sustainable surf park community authentic to North Florida, providing quality sport, recreation, hospitality and tourism amenities that celebrate the region’s surfing heritage, culture, and outdoor coastal lifestyle,” PARC said.
It says the heart of the project is a 56-module Wavegarden Cove lagoon, “offering unparalleled surf, leisure and wellbeing experiences for all ages and abilities, delivered consistently in a safe, controlled environment.”
Along with the surfing lagoon, the announcement says the surf park will feature a high-performance surf academy, boutique hotel, health and wellness center, beach club, quality food and beverage offerings, retail stores and event space.
The master plan also allows for entertainment, retail, multifamily residential and green spaces in the future, it says.
“We met our local partners in March 2022, and admire the passion they have for both surf and the city of Jacksonville,” said Aventuur co-founder and CEO Nicholas Edelman in the announcement.
“We have built an incredible amount of trust between our partners and The PARC Group, and we are extremely proud of the site we have secured for the development.”
Edelman said the Aventuur group believes “in the positive impact these developments can have on the health and wellbeing of a community, and the enjoyment that surfing can generate.”
“In delivering the Jacksonville Surf Park, we look forward to supporting grassroots surfing, working with charitable organizations, and building on our relationships with local government to help them increase employment opportunities and improve the quality of life for residents,” he said
PARC said the Jacksonville general partnership consists of “respected, highly qualified multi-generational developers, engineers and contractors who are passionate about the Jacksonville community, and surfing.”
The general partnership includes Lockwood Holmes, Jr., Riley Skinner and Hawley Smith.
“My partners and I have traveled across the United States to surf multiple wave pools, each time returning home with the dream of delivering this same experience for our North Florida community,” said partnership member Brad Davis, senior vice president of Prosser Prime AE.
“For nearly a decade we have researched, planned and strategized to bring this amenity to our town, but were unable to deliver it on our own. This all changed when Aventuur secured the Wavegarden rights for Jacksonville,” Davis said in the release.
“Collectively we aim to deliver a development that celebrates North Florida’s rich surfing history and culture, and serves the community by providing a new world-class wave and wellness amenity.”
PARC Group President Chris Pilinko said in the release that Jacksonville Surf Park in eTown “aligns with our vision of creating a vibrant, sustainable community that fosters outdoor recreation, wellness, and connection.”
The announcement says physical and mental well-being is a core focus of Aventuur’s mission.
“Designed having regard to ‘blue health’ principles, the Jacksonville Surf Park will provide a variety of spaces for individuals and families to enjoy the water, being outdoors and among nature,” it says.
It will support community growth, including the formation of youth, social surfing and activity group and foster connections between residents and visitors.
The Davis family owns the property through Westland Timber LLC.
Aventuur
Aventuur.com says that it was founded in 2019. It say it is “the leading developer and operator of integrated surf park developments.”
“We deliver authentic surfing destinations, sympathetic to their location, incorporating thoughtfully designed buildings, landscapes and experiences,” it says.
“With offices in Los Angeles and Perth, our team combines deep surf park expertise, investment rigour and passion to drive exceptional outcomes.”
For an idea of what the Jacksonville project could resemble, Aventuur describes its Perth Surf Park in Australia:
“Opening in early 2027, the Perth Surf Park is set to become a major sporting, tourism and entertainment destination in Western Australia,” it says.
“The innovative precinct will offer a range of surf, wellbeing and hospitality experiences for everyone to enjoy, year-round.”
It says a 56-module Wavegarden Cove will provide “perfect waves, tailored coaching and surf progression programs for all abilities in a safe, controlled environment.”
It says “a high-performance surf academy, recovery and fitness studios, surf rental, skate park and pump track will complement the surfing lagoon, along with a member’s lounge, beach club, quality restaurants and bars, rooftop glamping accommodation, Rip Curl flagship store and community amenities including naturescaped gardens, lawns and a kids playground.”
It said it wanted to commence construction in late 2024, produce first waves in late 2026, and open to the public in early 2027.
It also plans the Auckland Surf Park in Australia.
This story has been updated with the official announcement from The PARC Group