Westside & Orange Park

On the edges of city limits, the Westside and Orange Park offers a variety of residential communities for every budget and preference. Shopping, attractions, and nature preserves never come in short supply in these areas.

The Westside provides convenient access to the water for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The 3-mile-long Buckman Bridge across the St. Johns River links Mandarin with The Westside. With its beginnings dating back to 1763, The Westside area features waterfront mansions, Tudor-style homes, and modest wooden-frame houses dating back to the early 1900s. The Westside is well-known for its full-service marinas, nautical outfitters, and boating facilities. It is also home to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, birthplace of the Blue Angels; the U.S. Navy’s world-renowned flight demonstration team.

The Ortega community is one of the wealthiest in the nation. Stroll along the St. Johns River and take in what many consider to be the best views of the Downtown skyline.

The Westside of Jacksonville is home to one of the best equestrian centers on the East coast, Jacksonville Equestrian Center. This premiere facility for regional and national events showcases the best in horse competitions. When horse shows are not in town, the Equestrian Center hosts a wide range of entertainment events including concerts, mud-runs, and athletic competitions.

Just south of Jacksonville and west of the St. Johns River, Orange Park offers camping, hiking, and water activities for all. The Orange Park area is home to Doctor's Lake, providing boaters the perfect place to wakeboard, fish, or just relax on the water. The shaded and beautiful Cecil Recreational Trails are available to hikers, horseback riders, and off-road cyclists. The trail is a 100-foot wide Right-of-Way (ROW) currently extending approximately 14.5 miles from Imeson Road in Jacksonville to the Town of Baldwin. A 12’ wide paved trail currently exists for hikers, bikers and roller-bladers to enjoy. An equestrian trail also parallels the paved trail.