St. Johns County Breaks Ground on Sports Complex and Library in Shearwater Neighborhood

June 20, 2025

Catalyst is proud to be part of St. Johns County’s park system expansion as construction begins on its Central Sportsplex and Central Community Park in the growing Shearwater area. County leaders, residents, and project partners gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on June 20th to mark the start of construction on these highly anticipated recreational facilities off County Road 16A.

This milestone is part of St. Johns County’s broader $100 million initiative launched in 2019 to expand and enhance its regional parks. The Central Sportsplex will feature eight rectangular athletic fields—five artificial turf and three natural grass—designed to accommodate soccer, football, and other sports. Additional amenities include a running track, playground, and flexible multipurpose fields, all carefully planned to meet the needs of local youth sports leagues and regional tournaments alike.

Just a short walk from the complex, Central Community Park will include a new library, community center, splash pad, basketball court, multipurpose open space, eight pickleball courts, a climbing tower, a skate spot, and a playground—bringing active and passive recreation opportunities to families and individuals of all ages.

Catalyst has provided master planning and landscape architectural design services for four of the County’s planned parks, including Central Sportsplex and Central Community Park and Library. Projected to open in early 2027, these facilities will serve as essential destinations for recreation and connection for the growing County.

Stay tuned as construction progresses—we can’t wait to see these parks come to life!

Read more here.