CSX Donates $1 Million to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens for New Train Station

CSX Continues to Invest in Jacksonville Community

"Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens brings so much life and culture to our local community. We are looking forward to helping them create a lasting legacy in our hometown,” said Joe Hinrichs, president and CEO at CSX. “As we begin to plan celebrations for our own 200th anniversary in 2027, this donation represents our ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant, sustainable, and environmentally conscious community. The new train station will not only enhance the visitor experience but also create a lasting connection between our company and the wonderful residents of Jacksonville."

This gift reflects CSX’s longstanding commitment to invest in and serve the community it proudly calls home. Service is a guiding principle for CSX, as evidenced through the company’s commitment to customers, current and future employees, and the communities across its network. Supporting the economic and cultural flourishing of Jacksonville is a natural extension of this mission. Earlier this year, CSX committed a landmark $10 million contribution to the University of Florida to support the future graduate center, which is poised to redefine the landscape of downtown Jacksonville.

"We are delighted to receive this extraordinary donation from CSX,” said Nikki Smith, Chief Philanthropy and Community Engagement Officer at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. “The CSX Bicentennial Train Station will serve as a symbol of our shared commitment to the community and a cornerstone of our REZOOVENATION campaign, aimed at significantly enhancing our facilities and visitor experience. It will make the Zoo more accessible to families and visitors from across the region, enriching the experience and allowing us to share our mission of wildlife conservation and education with an even broader audience."

The opening of the CSX Bicentennial Train Station is slated for fall 2025. CSX and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens look forward to celebrating this partnership as they work together to bring the innovative, new train station to life.
 

 
About CSX

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal, and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corp. and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. 
 

About Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

For over 100 years, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has aimed to inspire the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection of one red deer fawn, the Zoo now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 species of plants, boasting the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit organization and a portion of every ticket sold goes to the over 45 conservation initiatives Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens supports around the world and in NE Florida. JZG is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, visit jacksonvillezoo.org.

Contact:

Bryan Tucker, CSX Transportation
[email protected]  

Emily Long, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
[email protected]