The Emerald Trail is making significant progress in design and construction, with goals of beginning segment two construction by the end of next year, as well as starting the design of segment three.

The Trail is broken down into three phases and further down into segments, the first of which broke ground last summer and is expected to be finished by the end of March next year.

With the section of McCoy’s Creek between Kings Street and I-95 under construction, project organizer Groundwork Jacksonville is looking ahead to the second segment, located at Hogan Street, being under construction by late next summer, and another section, Hogans Creek, being designed early next year — as long as grants go through as planned.

The first part of Phase 2, the Brooklyn section of McCoy’s creek up to the river, is being designed, and the part of Phase 2 from the river up to Riverside Avenue, will be going out for bid early next year to be constructed.

In 2022, the preliminary design for the restoration of Hogans Creek was completed, which, according to Groundwork Jacksonville, was a major win.

“People have been looking to get that creek restored for a long time, and the last time anybody seriously looked into that was, I think, 2009 or 2011 when the Army Corps came in and then got out because of contamination. They didn’t want to pursue it, so I think it’s been a long time coming,” said Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville.