City Manager's Message

We want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the City of Green Cove Springs, the county seat for Clay County that was incorporated in 1874. We are governed by a Council-Manager form of government, with a population of nearly 7,000 and six square miles. We recognize and cherish the services and sacrifices of our military. Historically speaking Green Cove was once home to a Naval training base during WWII and after the war housed a mothball fleet of 600 ships. This former naval base is now the site of Reynolds Industrial Park, some 1,700 acres of prime commercial and industrial land uses with access to land, rail and water. We support investments in our infrastructure to build capital wealth and offer incentive packages for industry to locate in our community. We are keen on business retention and job creation.

As a full service community nestled alongside the St. Johns River with a local police department, we enjoy picturesque vistas, an historic past, with a vibrant future. We have a variety of housing options and church denominations to meet your needs and we are a golf-cart friendly community. As a recreation rich community, our signature venue is known as Spring Park which has a public pier, playground, gazebo, spring fed swimming pool, and walkable trails. It is located at the terminus of Walnut Street. Spring Park is a must see for any visitor. Year round we have a variety of special events and festivals - Arbor Day, Memorial Day Riverfest, Trunk or Treat, and Christmas on Walnut Street. We co-sponsor the Soul Food Festival and Calavida Festival. We have a quaint downtown district that is lined with cobblestone streets, an art gallery, a bed and breakfast, restaurants, and 83 contributing structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also significant to our community is the planned Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center, located on Martin Luther King Boulevard not far from the City core and the namesake for renowned sculptor Augusta Fells Savage who was born in Green Cove Springs.

Our community's culture is known as Cove Life where everyday living is enjoyed by the river breeze, beautiful parks, swaying old shade trees and the smell of fresh spring water. Here in Green Cove we're passionate about our historical and unique city, a city where generations of folks and families show their love and pride of Cove Life. Our goal is to provide a community where you can live, work, and play in southeast Clay.

Yours in Service,
Steve Kennedy
City Manager