Sierra Club Northeast Florida Group

Join Sierra Club of NE Florida and Groundwork Jacksonville for Celebrate Trails Day on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LaVilla Link Butterfly Garden along the Emerald Trail.

This FREE family event, made possible by Baptist Health and the Community Forestry Program of the USDA Forest Service, is a fun opportunity to experience the beauty and community connection of the Emerald Trail.

There will be activities and demonstrations for the whole family to enjoy plus music, food, prizes, giveaways and more!

Don’t miss the first-ever yoga on the LaVilla Pond overlook and a special butterfly release at 1:00 p.m., plus free hotdogs and food sampling while supplies last. Parking is free at nearby lots at 1031 W. Church Street and the Emerald Trail Lot at 823 W. Forsyth Street, as shown on the LaVilla Link map. (see Photos section of this event).

At 10:30 and noon, Sierra Club of NE Florida will be leading a walking tour of the LaVilla Link section of the Emerald Trail, visiting the new LaVilla Pond, the new Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park, the Park Street bridge over McCoys Creek and the Butterfly Garden. Through our walk through these spaces, we will learn about the environmental benefits of urban trails and how our Emerald Trail is informed by the rich and diverse history of the Jacksonville neighborhoods it traverses.

NOTE: You are required to sign our Participation Agreement to participate in our outings. The forms to sign will be available in paper form at the meeting place for the walk.

Please bring sufficient water to remain hydrated on our tour which is fully exposed to the sun for parts of the route. In addition, sunscreen or some sun protection is recommended. *

The Celebrate Trails event information table will be at the Butterfly Garden at the corner of N. Johnson and W. Duval Streets. For the walking tour, meet at the LaVilla Pond on N. Lee Street between W. Monroe and W. Duval. Choose from two tours at 10:30 and noon.

* Help the environment by following these tips:

• Bring your water in a reusable container instead of a single-use plastic bottle

1. Use sunscreen free of oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals are extremely harmful to coral reefs, as well as being hormone disruptors in humans.

Sierra Club maintains a safe space agreement between participants, leaders, volunteers, and staff. We want to support everyone in exploring, enjoying, and protecting our natural environment, and hateful and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated. We don’t want to deny participation in these outdoor programs and we will always say no to racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, impairment, and disruption. We request that all participants cooperate with the outing leader's direction to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing for everyone.

Not a Sierra Club event, but we're teaming with Groundwork Jacksonville for cleanup along the S-Line Trail downtown.

Please help do a trash cleanup along the beautiful S-Line Trail in downtown Jacksonville.

We will clean the 1/2 mile section from Moncrief Rd to Boulevard St. and clean up around Section 1 of Hogans Creek.

I will provide trash grabbers and bags. Please bring water and gloves.

You will be required to sign a City of Jacksonville liability waiver.

Groundwork Jacksonville is the city’s primary nonprofit organization specifically created to clean and redevelop Jacksonville's Emerald Trail and convert contaminated land into parks, playgrounds, trails, and other public green space.

DIRECTIONS: Meet and park at the former Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church location, 2429 N Davis St, Jacksonville, FL 32209, Jacksonville, FL 32209.

Take I-95 north through Jax. Exit at 8th Street (Exit 353D). Turn right on 8th St, then an immediate left on N. Davis St. Drive about 1/4 mile. The parking lot is on the right immediately after you cross the S-Line trail.