Awards
Honor Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida
Since 2002, Hanson has partnered with the city of Jacksonville to transform a 52-acre former nursery and storm debris site into Fort Family Regional Park — one of the city’s premier recreational destinations. At the time, Jacksonville’s Southside lacked parks and recreational facilities, leaving a growing population underserved. Using a multi-phased, community-driven approach, Hanson collaborated with the city and stakeholders to develop the facility. The park features tennis and pickleball courts, lighted fields, water access, jogging trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and more.
The phased development used design-bid-build and design-build contracts. The initial phase established critical infrastructure, a tennis facility and multi-use fields; the second phase involved a baseball complex; and subsequent phases included pickleball courts, additional parking, fields converted to artificial turf, asphalt paths and a fishing pier. Each phase addressed evolving recreational needs, such as using artificial turf and incorporating pickleball courts due to rising demand, even ahead of its surge in popularity.
Hanson met environmental and technical challenges with innovative solutions, including over-excavation to address unsuitable organic soil and strategic stormwater management tied to the on-site drainage basin to comply with permitting requirements. The project team collaborated with local sports communities and implemented cost-effective safety measures. Enhancements such as the Bragan Baseball Complex — supported by the city and private donors — offer free youth baseball and host numerous tournaments and leagues, and the 350-foot fishing pier was built with recycled materials. Through adaptive design, stakeholder engagement and technical excellence, the entrant delivered a high-performance, inclusive park that serves as a vital recreational hub for Jacksonville.
