St. Johns County officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Ponte Vedra Nocatee Regional Park and Nocatee Library on May 1, marking a major milestone in the county’s long-term investment in parks, recreation, and public library services. The $42 million project, located at 670 Diego Plains Road in Nocatee, represents the final phase of St. Johns County’s countywide park expansion initiative designed to support the area’s rapidly growing population.
County leaders, staff members, and local residents gathered for the ceremony, including Board of County Commissioners Chair Clay Murphy, Commissioner Krista Joseph, Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, and Vice Chair Ann Taylor. Chair Murphy highlighted the partnerships that helped make the project possible.
“This project was made possible through a partnership with the Davis family and the PARC Group, who donated this land to make this vision a reality,” Murphy said. “I want to thank our Board of County Commissioners, the County staff, our community partners, and everyone who helped move this project from concept to construction.”
Once completed, the Ponte Vedra Nocatee Regional Park and Nocatee Library will feature two multipurpose sports fields, four softball fields, six pickleball courts, a playground, walking areas, and a full-service public library. Commissioner Krista Joseph said the project fulfills a long-standing community need for expanded recreational and library services in Nocatee.
“This is going to be a beautiful area with all kinds of recreation,” Joseph said. “We have wanted a free-standing library for Nocatee for four years… to combine the parks and library, is that not an unbelievable concept?”
County officials emphasized that the new facility will serve residents for generations by combining outdoor recreation with educational and community resources. Ryan Kane, director of the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department, said planners focused heavily on creating a space that supports long-term community growth. “This is going to be a place where people come together and gather for generations,” Kane said. “Making sure we got it right was so important.”
Debra Rhodes Gibson, director of the St. Johns County Public Library System, said the project reflects the county’s commitment to balancing growth with community-centered infrastructure. “These projects carry the weight of providing traditional educational and leisure services balanced with the County’s momentum for modern change,” Gibson said.
The Ponte Vedra Nocatee project completes the county’s four-site regional parks initiative. Earlier projects include the Silverleaf Sportsplex, Shearwater Community Park and Library, and Greenbriar Park and Library. County officials expect the Silverleaf Sportsplex and Shearwater facilities to open in early 2027, while Greenbriar is scheduled to open later that year.
County Administrator Joy Andrews said the investments will strengthen quality of life throughout St. Johns County. “Parks and libraries are at the heart of strong communities,” Andrews said. “These investments support the well-being of our residents while building the infrastructure that helps families connect, learn, and thrive.”
