One year ago, Explore Jacksonville ventured out to a little island under the Mathews bridge called Exchange Club Island Park. Below is a story of how it went.
We didn’t know much about the island, but we noticed the plot of land each time we drove over the Mathews Bridge.
After doing a little research, we found out that the city had turned #MudIsland into a park within the last few years. Our plan was to paddleboard over to the island from the mainland, but we didn’t know where the best launch spot was at first. After driving around the area, we found that Arlington Marina was the best and most direct location to access the island.
The next weekend, we strapped our paddleboards to our car and drove to the Arlington Marina.
There was ample parking at the marina and the boat ramp made it easy to place our paddleboards in the water.
From the mouth of the marina, we headed left towards the island. The water and current were seemingly mild. The total distance from the marina to the island is about 3,000 feet. Very doable.
We decided to ramp our paddleboards up onto a small strip of beach to the right of the boat dock. After pulling our paddleboards out of the water, we were ready to explore the island.
The island has marked trails, covered picnic tables, a boat dock and ramp, and a monument. We didn’t see any animals living on the island, but we did see old fire pits and garbage left behind by old visitors from days gone by.
After exploring the 34-acre island for around 45 mins, it was time to go back. Instead of heading straight back to the marina, we decided to go all around the perimeter of the island. This route allowed us to see the shipping yards, Hart Bridge, and a few large boats.
When we returned to the marina, we were ready to get some food. And so we did.
Like many great adventures, they always seem to end with good food.
If you are interested in checking out Exchange Club Island Park, you will need some type of water vessel. Whether that be a small boat, kayak, or a paddleboard.
Please only go if you feel comfortable on the water and trust yourself. And don’t forget your life jacket and whistle.
Thanks for reading!
This Explore idea was originally posted on our Instagram page on 08/07/19
@explorejacksonville
