If you’re from Jacksonville or have explored the area, chances are you’ve noticed colorful, whimsical creatures perched on trees, nestled in yards, or brightening up local businesses.

Documents obtained by News4JAX indicate that plans for the properties may include a private beach club, spa, fitness center, restaurant, improved Lemon Bar, parking, and retail space, transforming the area into a boutique resort hotel.

Neptune Beach is working to keep students safe by cracking down on the rules of the road with automated speed cameras that are now in effect at local school zones.

News4JAX is highlighting Duval County’s beaches for this month’s 4 Your Neighborhood special. But beyond the shoreline, there are some hidden gems at the beaches that you don’t want to miss.

If your dog loves to feel the sand in their paws, Duval County offers several pet-friendly beaches, but each has rules about when our fur friends can visit their shores.

Caleb Yauger had his first surfing lesson with Mark Collins at "Mark's Surf Camp." Here's how it went.

There is a lot of talk about what is going to happen to the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn and the old Kmart.

Jax Beach Aerial Arts is offering a unique opportunity for people to learn skills like circus stars.

Did you know Taco Lu on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach has a ghost? You must go back in time to get to the bottom of the paranormal activity that people who work there tell you is just haunting.

Since 1985, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, BEAM, has been serving members of the Beaches community who find themselves suddenly in crisis and unable to pay their rent, utility bill or feed their family.

W're highlighting one Neptune Beach student who is volunteering to fight Alzheimer’s disease every year at an annual walk that draws thousands of people.

The 2025 DUUUVAL Draft Party, which would usually be held at EverBank Stadium, has been moved to the Lemon Bar and Seahorse Oceanfront Inn in Neptune Beach.

Neptune Beach is repairing damaged walkways and installing ADA-compliant ramps in the Oceanwood subdivision.

The ordinance will be introduced at Atlantic Beach City Hall at the 6 p.m. meeting. The second and final reading will be on March 10.

Starting Monday, a 40-day warning period begins for drivers near Neptune Beach school zones as the city rolls out its automated speed cameras.

The Penman Road Project was on the agenda at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The idea of roundabouts being placed along Penman has been floated around for several years. Currently, the plan is to add roundabouts at five intersections in the area.

Neptune Beach has a problem with speeders in school zones, even though signs tell drivers how fast to drive and when to do it. But people are still speeding, and now there will be a hefty fine if you get caught thanks to speed cameras that will go live in April.

Months after an 18-year-old was accused of antagonizing Kamala Harris supporters with a machete at a Neptune Beach polling precinct, the State Attorney’s Office said it would not be following through on charges against him.

A Neptune Beach man stepped up his holiday decorating game by honoring a holiday movie classic: “A Christmas Story.”

Hundreds of individuals head to Pete’s Bar on Thanksgiving each year to partake in “Petesgiving,” an annual Thanksgiving celebration.

Results for Duval County races, including Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach

The final push to Election Day is bringing many voters out, including Mayor Donna Deegan.

Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key ensured voters would continue to be safe after a teen pulled out a machete to intimidate voters. Now, the Duval County Supervisor of Elections is also echoing those sentiments.

A 911 call for help and a woman’s testimony gave more insight into the moment when a group of teens, including an 18-year-old accused of brandishing a machete, confronted a group of people holding political signs at an early voting site in Neptune Beach Monday.

Supporters of Harris and Trump told News4JAX on Wednesday that they are used to being heckled by the opposing side while waving signs outside polling locations. But what happened at the Jacksonville Public Library Beaches Branch in Neptune Beach on Tuesday afternoon was “outrageous,” “scary” and “sad.”

An 18-year-old now faces an aggravated assault charge after the Neptune Beach Police Department said he “brandished a machete” in an armed disturbance incident.

An 18-year-old now faces an aggravated assault charge after the Neptune Beach Police Department said he “brandished a machete” in an armed disturbance incident.

An 18-year-old now faces an aggravated assault charge after the Neptune Beach Police Department said he “brandished a machete” in an armed disturbance incident.

A 15-year-old boy died in a hospital after he was hit by a car while riding his bike at the five-way intersection of Penman Road, Florida Boulevard and Forest Avenue Friday night, according to the Neptune Beach Police Department.

Neptune Beach voters will elect a mayor and a city council member this year. Council Seat 2 was also up for election, but Tim Horvath was the only candidate and was elected without opposition.

The City of Neptune Beach is honoring a former employee by partnering with local nonprofit Here Tomorrow throughout National Suicide Prevention Month.

It’s pretty much a Florida tradition for any beach day: You load up the car and on the way to the ocean, you make the obligatory Publix run to grab all the beach essentials like Pub Subs, sweet tea and fried chicken.

Fletcher High School students in Neptune Beach will notice extra security on Thursday after police were notified about a threat made toward the school on social media.

The mother of a 21-year-old man fatally shot in one of three Jacksonville Beach shootings on St. Patrick’s Day wanted answers in her son’s death.

Eden and Christine of the Uncluttered and Unfiltered podcast teamed up with expert stylist Emilie Christenson to explore how to look effortlessly chic at any age.

The first weekend of the summer kicked off, and hundreds of people visited the beaches as the beach renourishment project continues in Jacksonville Beach.

Thousands of locals and tourists went to Jacksonville Beach to celebrate Memorial Day, and police were out in full force to ensure beachgoers stayed safe.

The first of seven Duval County Public Schools community meetings is Tuesday night to discuss possible school closures and consolidations being proposed for the district.

The goal is to address erosion caused by tropical storms Ian and Nicole.

A Neptune Beach man died Thursday in a Ponte Vedra Beach crash on County Road 210A.

The goal is to address erosion caused by tropical storms Ian and Nicole.

Wednesday marks the official start of sea turtle nesting season, which means turtles will be burying their eggs in nests up and down the coastline.

The Neptune Beach Police Department posted signs to ensure residents who ride electric bikes and regular bikes know traffic laws.

The Duval County public school landscape could look very different - in the next few years. Two dozen schools are on the chopping block or could be consolidated.

The district is exploring ways to address a $1.4 billion budget gap through consolidation, and Atlantic Beach Elementary School is one of the schools that would close under a proposal under consideration.

Neptune Beach will add speed cameras to school zones after the city council approves the new addition on Monday.

The ticket would have a photo of the driver’s license plate and the speed they were traveling at the time.

A Neptune Beach man was sentenced to 30 months in prison on two felony charges related to the Jan. 6 breach of the capital.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville awarded a $32.4 million contract to support a renourishment project across nearly 10 miles of Duval County beaches.

Neptune Beach Police Department Chief Michael Key, Jr. is continuing the tradition of “Chief Walks,” where the police department goes door to door speaking to residents to learn about their concerns and see what’s happening in the community.

Runners and chuggers alike gathered to continue decades of tradition at the Beaches Town Center Thanksgiving morning for Tony’s Turkey Trot and Petes-giving.

A 30-year-old man who spent 10 years in prison for a DUI manslaughter charge is back in jail after he was arrested for the second time in less than two weeks.

The agency said it was because of an off-campus incident and that it was out of an abundance of caution.

Ed White visited Fletcher in the Football Friday Game of the Week. The Senators won 20-19. Photographer Kevin Nguyen captured the game in this photo gallery.

At Friday night’s football game at Fletcher High School against Ed White High School, extra precautions were put in place to help keep fans safe.

Fletcher High School principal ended a Friday night football game against Sandalwood High School.

School hopes to raise $100,000

Neptune Beach will swear in its new police chief Friday evening. Chief Michael Key will take over running the police department at 6 p.m.

Two days before a Neptune Beach Publix made national headlines for selling the winning $1.58 billion Mega Millions ticket, the store attracted the unwanted attention of an armed robbery suspect, according to police.

The winning ticket in Tuesday’s $1.58 billion Mega Millions drawing was sold at a Publix in Neptune Beach.

A single lottery ticket sold in Florida has won a $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot.

BEAM and Humana team up to help more than 80 senior citizens living in the Jacksonville beach area.

The former city manager for Neptune Beach is taking legal action after being fired in January.

Three young men have lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Duval County this month.

A heroic rescue ended in tragedy overnight, as a young man tried to save 3 others in Neptune Beach, ultimately giving his life for their safety.

Atlantic Beach Police confirmed crews located a man’s body in the water just north of 19th Street in Atlantic Beach.

Neptune Beach City Council voted Monday to pass a smoking and vaping ban at the beach and parks.

Neptune Beach City Council made a motion Monday to pay the remaining balance that will help get the city’s Senior Activity Center back open.

Cousins Maine Lobster began with one food truck and a shared vision to extend the highest-quality Maine lobster to the lobster-starved masses by making it affordable and accessible.

A 20-year-old serving a 15-year sentence for killing his grandmother should learn Friday how much time will be added to his sentence for brewing alcohol while in jail.

By the end of this week, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Fernandina Beach will be searching for new city managers. These vacancies are all for different reasons.

Logan Mott was back in Duval County Court on Thursday for a sentencing hearing after he pleaded guilty to brewing alcohol while in jail.

One anti-gun violence group came together to show support for those affected by gun violence and to bring awareness to the growing problem in Jacksonville for National Gun Violence Survivors Week.

Residents on Wednesday evening attended a meeting of the Neptune Beach City Council, where some spoke up about an eyesore water tank that they said was recently built.

Elijah Melendez-Eyster is a senior at Mandarin High School and part of the Jacksonville Association of Governing Students, or “JAGS,” a recently-rebooted initiative by Duval County Public Schools, aimed at providing students with a direct conduit to the highest offices in the district.

Neptune Beach City Manager Stefen Wynn was fired during Tuesday night's city meeting.

The main event will be held on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. where visitors can view the trains, meet Santa, and more!

The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales are coming to Northeast Florida!

Two drivers were seriously injured in a Sunday morning crash in Neptune Beach, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

As Nicole made way through Northeast Florida Thursday morning, the tropical storm brought heavy rains, strong wind gusts and sustained winds to the Jacksonville Beach area.

Police are investigating what caused a truck to crash into a Neptune Beach church building Thursday morning.

Shad Khan is expanding his ongoing list of land throughout Jacksonville with the addition of a Neptune Beach property.

Two of five seats on the Neptune Beach City Council are up for election this year. As the only candidate for the Seat 5 position, incumbent Nia Livingston was elected without opposition.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced Friday afternoon that Duval County’s beaches are reopening after Ian passed through the area. But while much of Jacksonville was spared by Ian, the storm did do a number on Duval County’s shoreline. Beachgoers are also asked to stay off the fragile dunes, and Curry warned people to stay out of the water, as there is a strong rip current risk, along with a high surf advisory.

The Neptune Beach Police Department posted a warning on social media Friday morning asking parents not to allow children to play near dunes because they present a collapse hazard in the wake of Ian.

Wind gusts and sustained winds at Jacksonville-area beaches from Hurricane Ian have caused major erosion concerns as the storm drags across the state.

Volunteers hit beaches and parks across Northeast Florida as part of an international coastal cleanup Saturday morning.

JEA pointed to the staggering fuel cost as the biggest contributing factor to the JEA bill increases.

A now-former school safety officer accused of inappropriately touching a teenager was arrested Tuesday by the Atlantic Beach Police Department on multiple charges, according to authorities.

It was a weekend of shark sightings at area beaches.

Friday is the last day a pair of city-run COVID-19 testing sites will be open.

Two COVID-19 testing sites in Jacksonville will be shutting their doors this week.

A Neptune Beach man, who was arrested in connection with an altercation during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol that left an officer “visibly injured,” has opted for a trial on his charges.

Jacksonville beaches were filled with tens of thousands of people hitting the sand and the surf to celebrate Independence Day on Monday. People came from all over to soak up the sun, which means extra lifeguards, police and firefighters working to ensure everyone stayed safe.

Thousands of people are expected to hit local beaches to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Heather Weidle said she organized Saturday’s march out of frustration with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

The Fourth of July holiday means tens of thousands of people will hit Jacksonville-area beaches, and fireworks are scheduled to go off from the Jacksonville Beach Pier at 9 p.m. Monday.

The Fourth of July holiday means tens of thousands of people will hit Jacksonville-area beaches.

Help keep Jacksonville's beaches looking beautiful by donating your time to help pick up trash after the July 4 holiday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that state Rep. Cord Byrd will replace Secretary of State Laurel Lee, a former circuit judge who helped steer Florida through the 2020 elections and is now stepping down after a little more than three years in her post.