St. Johns County has quietly expanded its future park footprint, closing this April on roughly 32.9 wooded acres off Moccasin Creek Lane next to the county fairgrounds in Elkton. Officials say the land will be banked for a future regional park, a move they are pitching as a preemptive play to protect open space and boost recreation options for fast-growing neighborhoods in the southern part of the county.
According to St. Johns County, the property was bought from the Sykes Family Limited Partnership, was appraised at $824,100 and carried $10,630.20 in closing costs. County Parks & Recreation staff describe the parcel as part of a long-range effort to lock in key park sites before development pressure really ramps up in the area.
The Board of County Commissioners signed off on the acquisition at its Dec. 2, 2025 meeting, and the sale closed in April 2026. The deal was funded with $800,000 from the FY26 budget plus a $36,100 transfer from Parks Zone D impact-fee reserves, and county leaders framed it as one piece of a broader push to add recreation capacity, according to News4JAX. “This is exactly the kind of proactive investment our community deserves,” County Administrator Joy Andrews said, while Commission Chair Clay Murphy argued the acquisition helps the county “stay ahead” of growth pressures.
How The Deal Fits Into A $123 Million Parks Plan
The new land ties into an estimated $123 million regional park program the county rolled out in 2024 to build five park campuses and community centers across St. Johns County, as reported by the Jacksonville Business Journal. Projects already moving under that plan include the Silverleaf Sportsplex and the Shearwater Community Park and Library.
What Happens Next For The 33 Acres
County staff say the Administration’s Infrastructure Delivery Team is currently sorting through financing and design options for the new site, and that there is no construction timeline yet, per News4JAX. Land Management Director Corey Bowens thanked the Sykes family for working with the county and said the goal is to hold the parcel for public use while the details get worked out.
For residents watching the southern corridor boom, the purchase is another signal that the county is setting land aside for parks instead of turning everything over to immediate private development. Officials say more detailed planning and community outreach will come later, once the Infrastructure Delivery Team completes its initial work.
