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Wild Spaces & Public Places

Fiscal Year 2024 Report


Gainesville's Wild spaces Public Places logo



This report summarizes the City of Gainesville’s involvement in the Wild Spaces & Public Places program for fiscal year 2024. It provides an overview of the city’s expenditures along with highlights of several projects completed throughout the year.

Expenditures pie graph showing 77.70 percent for Construction Design and Professional Services. 12.24 percent Operations and Maintenance. 9.89 percent Construction Administration and .17 percent Advertising and Marketing.



Fiscal Year 2024 Expenditures


We take great pride in the spending breakdown for the city’s Wild Spaces & Public Places program, as most of the funds are directed straight to the job sites.

Construction, Design & Profession Services $3,653,861

Operations & Maintenance $575,395

Construction Administration $465,177

Advertising & Marketing $8,110

Funds received

$11,259,697

Funds expended

$4,702,545



Project Locations


In Fiscal Year 2024, many Wild Spaces & Public Places projects were completed, with more in the works. Between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, projects at the following sites were underway, encompassing project planning, design, permitting and construction.

1. A. Quinn Jones Museum & Cultural Center

2. Abby Wambach Park

3. Albert "Ray" Massey Park

4. Alfred A. Ring Park

5. Bivens Arm Nature Park

6. Bo Diddley Plaza

7. Boulware Springs Nature Park

8. City Hall Plaza

9. Clarence R. Kelly Community Center & Park

10. Dreamer's Garden

11. Duval Nature Park

12. Dwight H. Hunter Pool

13. Fred Cone Park

14. Greentree Park

15. H. Spurgeon Cherry Pool

16. Old Post Office Building and Federal Courthouse (The Hippodrome)

17. Ironwood Golf Course

18. Lincoln Yard Park

19. Morningside Nature Center

20. NE 31st Avenue Multi-use Trail

21. Possum Creek Park

22. Rosa B. Williams Center

23. SW 47th Avenue Multi-use Trail

24. Split Rock Conservation Area

25. Sweetwater Wetlands Park to Sweetwater Preserve Multi-use Trail

26. Thelma A. Boltin Center

27. Thomas Center

28. Tom Petty Park

A map of the City of Gainesville showing 28 numbered pins to notate the location of each project completed in Fiscal Year 2024.

Projects Completed in Fiscal Year 2024

With many projects in varying phases of completion throughout the year, the Wild Spaces & Public Places Department completed a number of transformational projects.

Lincoln Yard Park

Construction of a new neighborhood park included the creation of a 1/3 mile trail, playground, adult fitness equipment, seating, signage, decorative fencing around the stormwater pond and a new entrance gate with landscaping.

 

Old Post Office Building and Federal Courthouse (The Hippodrome) roof and gutter repair Work included installing replacement flashing around eight dormer windows and one chimney and lining the gutter system to prevent stormwater infiltration. 


Tom Petty Park ball field Improvements

The project included construction of an accessible pathway to all three softball fields, drainage improvements and new turf on the softball fields as well as shade structures installed over the bleachers and fencing upgrades. New scoreboards, water lines, water fountains and benches were also installed as part of this project.  


Dreamer’s Garden gate

Work included the construction of brick columns to support an artist-donated gate and sidewalk and fence repair. 


Albert “Ray” Massey Park, Lincoln Park, Possum Creek Park, Fred Cone Park and Bivens Arm Nature Park ADA improvement projects

Sidewalk improvements completed at multiple parks included removal of broken sidewalks, concrete grinding and adding new sidewalks to improve park access.

Morningside Nature Center schoolhouse deck replacement and Hogan’s Cabin roof

The schoolhouse deck project included the removal and replacement of the deck and ramp to the schoolhouse building.  Replacement of the Nature Center's Hogan’s Cabin roof included removal and replacement of the cedar shake roof and chimney on the 1840’s cabin.


Bo Diddley Plaza stage reconstruction and viewing area improvements

The stage at Bo Diddley Plaza was renovated to improve drainage and functionality. One of the brick viewing areas was also reconstructed to improve accessibility within the plaza.  


Abby Wambach Park

Upgrades at the park included new signage, scoreboards, steel bollards, park benches, traffic barriers, sports lighting, fencing and stump grinding and clearing in the dog park. 

 

Split Rock Conservation Area boardwalks and entrance improvements 

Work included construction of pedestrian boardwalks over wetlands, installation of bollards at the entrance and new signage.


H. Spurgeon Cherry Pool slide renovation

The project included removal and replacement of the slide’s structural supports as well as refurbishment of the slide.

Alachua County Wild Spaces & Public Places Sales Tax Dollars

Distribution


Did you know?



The State of Florida disperses the Wild Spaces & Public Places sales tax revenue to Alachua County and the eight incorporated municipalities within the county based on population.

Pie chart showing the breakdown of funds split between Alachua County the City of Gainesville and Small Municipalities.
Alachua County 56.98 percent. The county receives a larger portion of the sales tax collected. 80 percent goes toward conservation lands and 20 percent goes toward active parks.
City of Gainesville 35.45 percent. The city is focusing its efforts on improvements and renovations to existing parks and facilities with a few signature projects.
Small Municipalities 7.57 percent. The remainder of the sales tax is distributed amongst smaller municipalities within the county including Alachua Archer Hawthorne High Springs LaCrosse Micanopy Newberry and Waldo

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, James Ingle, Casey Willits


City Leadership

City Manager Cynthia W. Curry

Chief Operating Officer Andrew Persons

Executive Chief of Staff Cintya Ramos

Special Advisor to the City Manager Brian Singleton

Special Projects Administrator Phil Mann

Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Roxy Gonzalez

Director of Wild Spaces & Public Places Betsy Waite



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