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New Jax City buildings in minecraft style

City of Jacksonville Announces Launch of Jacksonville World in Minecraft Education & An Esport Competition for Local Students

April 15, 2025
In partnership with Minecraft Education, C40 Cities, and Duval County Public Schools, the City of Jacksonville has launched the “New Jax City” citywide Minecraft Build Challenge. This competition is open to ALL elementary school through college aged students within Duval County, who are invited to help reimagine Jacksonville’s public spaces and communities.
 
The challenge integrates STEM, urban planning, and creativity to foster collaboration, civic engagement, and innovative thinking. Students will design Minecraft worlds that envision a dynamic, forward-thinking future for the city.

Jacksonville is one of the few cities worldwide featured in Minecraft Education. Parts of the city are now available for players around the world to explore. Additionally, actual Jacksonville leaders are featured as non-playable characters (NPCs), providing players with information about city departments, plans, and critical projects. The game is also linked to city planning resources, giving students an opportunity to learn about sustainability, resilience, upcoming developments, and other important initiatives.

The city invites all students to participate in the competition, which includes a virtual semi-final round from April 14th to May 2nd. This will be followed by an in-person Mayor’s Cup — an exciting Esports-style live final on May 20th - where top teams will present their projects to city leaders and experts.

“We’re thrilled to join select cities around the world in partnering with Minecraft Education to give students the chance to shape Jacksonville’s future,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “While playing, students will learn from real city leaders and see how we work together to solve problems and build a better future for our city. I encourage all of our students to participate in the Challenge, which is designed to build pathways to STEM careers and civic leadership.”

"We are excited to welcome students to the New Jax City Build Challenge 2025! This Minecraft Education challenge ignites creativity and inspires Duval County students to envision a more sustainable city for themselves and future generations. By collaborating with their peers, students can learn from each other, build new skills, and showcase their innovation to city leaders," said Allison Matthews, Head of Minecraft Education.

“We’re excited to see Jacksonville’s youth step up as creators and leaders, imagining a better, more sustainable city,” said Ashantae Green, Sustainability Manager for the City of Jacksonville. “This initiative gives students the opportunity to learn about city plans and projects, and the platform to showcase their ideas.”

To learn more about New Jax City and the Build Challenge, visit: Jacksonville.gov - Jax Build Challenge.

For a video demonstration, click here.