This report is a summary of the City of Gainesville’s portion of the Wild Spaces & Public Places program during fiscal year 2023. It’s a snapshot of the city’s expenditures along with highlights of a few of the transformative projects that were completed during the year.

Project Locations

In Fiscal Year 2023, several large Wild Spaces & Public Places projects were successfully completed with many more in the works. From project planning, design, permitting and construction, 20 projects were underway between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023.



Making a local Impact

Projects Completed in Fiscal Year 2023

...

With many projects in varying phases of completion throughout the year, the Wild Spaces & Public Places program completed a number of projects including a few large-scale renovations with significant impact to the Gainesville Community.

Albert “Ray” Massey Park Playground

A full renovation to Gainesville’s busiest playground is a big hit! Accessible play surfacing and a colorful theme boost imaginative play within the fenced playground. Inspired by the NW 8th Avenue Solar Walk public art installation, the new space-themed playground offers physical, social and sensory play experiences for all ages and abilities. The area surrounding the playground includes a new ADA restroom and new walking paths with lighting.

H. Spurgeon Cherry Aquatics Center 

Albert “Ray” Massey Park’s 55-year-old H. Spurgeon Cherry Aquatics Center building and pool has a new design focusing on ease of use for guests. Some of the features include a new lobby layout with direct access to the pool, individual shower stalls, lockers and cubbies with digital locks in the aquatics center and on the pool deck, two outdoor showers, two family restrooms accessible from the pool deck, new roofing, electrical systems upgrades and a new pool liner.

Hippodrome Theatre Cinema and Restrooms

Cinema updates include new theatre seats, lighting, cinema screen, carpeting, paint, acoustic wall panels and much more. Additional upgrades to the first and second floor restrooms include replacement and refinishing of the existing flooring, new plumbing, fixtures, mirrors and partition walls. 

Forest Park

Improvements to the popular soccer fields at Forest Park include improved field drainage, field lighting, the addition of a 2/3-sized soccer field, turf replacement, irrigation modifications, 13 new shade structures and 30 new bleachers. Additional improvements to the park include pickleball and basketball court surfacing, the creation of small and large off-leash dog parks, a new pavilion, two competition-quality sand volleyball courts, parking lot lighting, new water fountains, benches, tables and fencing.

Morningside Nature Park

Completed improvements at the beloved Morningside Nature Park include a new cedar shake roof on the garden shed, a new metal roof on the barn and a drinking fountain along the path to the living history farm. Look for additional upgrades to the park in the next fiscal year!

Possum Creek Skate Park

The project at Possum Creek Park includes lighting the skate park, parking lot and restroom path. The skate park is now open until 11:30 p.m. allowing extended hours of activity! As one of Florida’s premiere skating landscapes, Possum Creek’s skate area features a multi-level bowl, obstacles, modern plaza elements and integrated landscaping. 

Additional completed projects:

Improvements to Sweetwater Wetlands Park include new gates and an electric gate opener at the drive-in entrance. Improvements to Tom Petty Park tennis courts include a full rebuild of the four courts originally constructed in the 1970s. Improvements to two neighborhood parks include new ADA restrooms at Unity Park and the addition of an accessible pathway, installation of musical instruments, a new pavilion roof and swing set at A.N.N.E. Park.



Distribution of the Alachua County Wild Spaces & Public Places Sales Tax Dollars

A Note from the Director

Fiscal year 2023 was a transformative time for parks and public spaces in Gainesville. The Wild Spaces & Public Places program worked on 20 upgrades spanning every quadrant of the city. Highlighted accomplishments included major renovations at Albert “Ray” Massey Park, Forest Park and the Hippodrome Theatre.

As we move into 2024, new influential projects take the spotlight. The Wild Spaces & Public Places team is honored to take part in two historic building projects, overseeing restoration efforts of the Thelma A. Boltin Center and major renovations to the Boulware Springs Waterworks Building. We are also proud to have over 5 miles of paved multiuse trails and new pickleball courts in the final stages of design and permitting. 

Thank you, Gainesville neighbors, for supporting Wild Spaces & Public Places. Your vote allows us to continue to acquire and improve lands for conservation, wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation, and to operate and maintain parks and recreational facilities. We look forward to working with you in the years to come!



Sincerely,

Elizabeth D. Waite (Betsy)

Wild Spaces & Public Places Director



Who We Are

The Wild Spaces & Public Places program is a small construction management office comprised of skilled professionals who share a passion for Gainesville and its parks. To find out more about the program, the projects coming to a park near you, and to sign up for updates, visit our webpage at: www.gainesvillefl.gov/wspp

Questions? Please contact Betsy Waite at 352-393-8187 or email:

WildSpacesPublicPlaces@gainesvillefl.gov.



Gainesville City Commission

Harvey Ward (Mayor), Ed Book, Cynthia Chestnut,

Desmon Duncan-Walker, Bryan Eastman, Reina Saco, Casey Willits