[1] The arboretum officially opened on November 15, 2008, and the Sierra Club of Northeast Florida stated, "Development of this park is truly a community project of a size and scope never before undertaken by a volunteer organization.

[3] The city of Jacksonville purchased the property for use as a buffer from a wastewater treatment plant during the 1970s, and left alone for thirty years, 13 separate ecosystems developed, including oak hammock, fresh water ravine, upland sand hill and salt marsh.

[4][5][6] A group of conservation-minded nature lovers recognized the site's value and founded the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens (JAG) as a non-profit organization in March, 2004.

In 2006, the Jacksonville City Council approved bill number 2006-234, which granted a 20-year lease and $250,000 to pay for paving the parking area, creating a development plan, and construction of a walking trail.

[7][8] The tract was surveyed and mapped, a master plan was created, support was solicited from local businesses, and volunteers began to remove dumped junk and shape the landscape.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a location on the north side of the property as a relocation site for gopher tortoises.

[2] Alligator, snakes, lizards, foxes, squirrels, turtles and armadillo make their home at JAG, as well as hawks, osprey, owls, and numerous species of smaller birds.

Recreational Equipment Inc (REI) funded regrading a portion of the Jones Creek Trail and installation of accessible creekside seating.

Pooled donations from members and friends and earned income from events have funded installation of prefabricated storage and maintenance sheds, building two boardwalks, and regrading the Lake Loop to under 5% slope.