JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A revolutionary “beach lifestyle” is coming to the Westside, as developers have officially broken ground on Diamond Springs, a master-planned community featuring a massive, 17-acre lagoon centerpiece. The project, located off Normandy Boulevard near Cecil Airport, marks a major milestone as the first of its kind in Duval County.
For residents, the vision is simple: a resort-style vacation experience without ever leaving the neighborhood.
“You really do feel like you’re in a resort,” said Lisa Gibbings of the Metro Development Group. “It’s like you’ve taken a vacation when you’re really in the backyard of your own neighborhood.”
At the heart of the development will be a 4-acre crystal-clear lagoon designed to transform how locals interact with their environment. The amenities planned for the aquatic space include swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding, alongside a swim-up bar for adults. Younger residents and families will also have access to a floating obstacle course, a children’s splash pad, and dedicated areas for volleyball, bumper carts, and food trucks.
The scale of such a project naturally brings questions regarding resources, specifically the massive volume of water required to fill the basin. While precise figures for the Jacksonville site are still being finalized, Gibbings noted that the scale of these lagoons can be significant. “Some of our lagoons in the Tampa Bay area are upwards of 33 million gallons of water,” she said. Developers confirmed they are currently exploring water sources, which could include well water, municipal supply, or a combination of both.
Despite the project being in its early construction stages, market interest is already surging. Several homes in the community have been built, listed, and sold, with the upcoming lagoon acting as a primary draw for buyers.
Bert Copple, one of the community’s newest homeowners, said the family-friendly amenities were a deciding factor. “I want to be someplace where there’s going to be something for my kids,” Copple said. “If you go into a new community, it’s great—maybe there’s a park, maybe there’s something like that. But this has just got everything.”
Developers intend for the lagoon to serve the broader Jacksonville community as well. While it will be a cornerstone amenity for homeowners, plans are in place to offer day passes, allowing visitors from outside the neighborhood to enjoy the facility.
Construction on the Diamond Springs project is expected to continue through late 2027. The Metro Development Group says it will release further updates and operational details as the construction timeline progresses, offering residents and future guests a clearer picture of when they can officially hit the beach in the middle of the Westside.
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