A Coastal Getaway Is Coming to Jacksonville! Metro Development Group Breaks Ground on Diamond Springs Lagoon

Four acres of blue water, a swim-up bar and waterfront recreation will bring inland coastal living to Duval County’s first lagoon community

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A beach day without leaving the neighborhood? That vision is one step closer to reality at Diamond Springs. Metro Development Group held a ceremonial groundbreaking for Duval County’s first lagoon in a community, marking a major step toward bringing inland coastal living to Jacksonville.

Plans call for approximately four acres of beautiful blue water within the 17-acre lagoon destination, including surrounding amenities and parking. Residents can look forward to sandy shores, kayaking and paddleboarding, a floating obstacle course, a children’s splash pad and an on-site swim-up bar. Cabana Cove, The Hub events pavilion, food and beverage options, and watercraft, tiki and lounger rentals will round out the experience.

“This is the moment so many people have been looking forward to,” said Lisa Gibbings, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Metro Development Group. “Inland coastal living means bringing the best parts of a coastal getaway into everyday life. At Diamond Springs, that could mean paddleboarding close to home, meeting neighbors at the swim-up bar or spending an afternoon in the sand with your family. This groundbreaking brings that lifestyle one step closer to reality.”

About Diamond Springs

Diamond Springs spans 1,300 acres off Normandy Boulevard and is planned for approximately 2,700 homes. Builder partners include D.R. Horton, offering townhomes with single-family homes coming soon, along with Dream Finders Homes, DRB Homes and Lennar, offering single-family homes.

The community celebrated its grand opening in October 2025. Its first residential phase includes 981 homes, with approximately 1,470 homes planned for the second phase.

Beyond the lagoon, Diamond Springs pairs outdoor recreation with modern conveniences. The community features walking and biking trails, nature preserves, picnic areas, overlooks, lush landscaping, and planned sports fields and courts. ULTRAFi super high-speed internet and Streetleaf solar streetlights add to the community’s infrastructure.

Located approximately 20 miles from downtown Jacksonville, Diamond Springs offers convenient access to major highways. Jacksonville International Airport is only about 30 miles away, with Florida’s coastal beaches approximately 40 miles away and historic St. Augustine just 45 miles away.

“Diamond Springs is bringing a whole new way to enjoy life in Jacksonville,” Gibbings added. “We cannot wait for residents to experience it.”

Learn more about Diamond Springs here.

About METRO Development Group

Founded in 2003, Tampa-based Metro Development Group has been redefining Florida living and master-planned communities for more than 20 years. As Florida's largest privately held residential developer, Metro focuses on managing all aspects of land development by working with investors, landowners and award-winning builders. Metro has set a gold-standard of inland coastal living through innovative technologies, iconic entryways and world-class amenities, including its signature MetroLagoon. In 2023, two of Metro's Pasco County communities - Mirada and Epperson - were ranked among the 50-top-selling master-planned communities in the country by real estate consulting firms RCLCO and John Burns Real Estate Consulting. For more information, visit MetroDevelopmentGroup.com.