National infrastructure leaders gathered in Jacksonville, Florida, to spotlight how public works projects can strengthen resilience, improve quality of life, and prepare communities for the future.
The latest stop on the Engineering & Public Works Roadshow highlighted the McCoys Creek Restoration Project, a transformational effort led in large part by public works professionals working to address flooding, mobility, and environmental concerns in one of Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods.
The Engineering & Public Works Roadshow—an ongoing collaboration between APWA, ASCE, and ACEC—showcased how infrastructure investments in Jacksonville are helping the community adapt to modern challenges while creating safer and more connected public spaces.
The McCoys Creek project has transformed a long flood-prone waterway into a modernized system designed to better manage stormwater, reduce flood risks, and reconnect neighborhoods to surrounding parks, trails, and business districts. Public works professionals have played a central role in coordinating engineering, environmental restoration, transportation improvements, and community engagement efforts tied to the project.
For APWA, the Jacksonville stop reinforced the essential role public works agencies play in building resilient communities and delivering visible results for residents.
“Projects like McCoys Creek demonstrate what happens when public works professionals, engineers, and community leaders work together with a shared vision,” APWA President-elect Robert Garland said during the event. “Public works improves lives every day—often in ways most people never see until a project like this transforms an entire community.”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan joined infrastructure leaders and local officials for the event, which also highlighted the growing need for a strong public works workforce capable of maintaining and modernizing critical infrastructure systems nationwide.
