GNV News

Upcoming Week at a Glance

Click through for more information on each event or search below for featured event articles.

Aug. 6: Food Trucks at Cornerstone

Aug. 7: Free Fridays concert

Aug. 7: Teen Midnight Basketball

Change in billing for Solid Waste Services and Stormwater Management Utility

The way the City of Gainesville bills you for Solid Waste Services and Stormwater Management Utility is changing. Since the 1980s, the City of Gainesville has included its Solid Waste and Stormwater Management Utility (SMU) fees on GRU bills. Starting this

October, the city is transferring billing to non-ad valorem assessments, and it will be billed annually on property tax bills and collected by the Alachua County Tax Collector.

Final Midnight Teen Basketball of the summer-Friday, Aug. 7 at the MLK Center

Join us for the final Teen Midnight Basketball of the season! Teen Midnight Basketball offers monthly athletic opportunities for youth during late night, weekend hours when they might otherwise be involved in unsupervised activities. 

Who: Kids age 11-18

Dates: Friday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Where: MLK Center

Cost: Free  

Advisory Board Volunteers Celebrated

City of Gainesville advisory boards and committees help shape decisions on everything from planning and transportation to parks, housing and public safety. Made up of neighbors who volunteer their time and expertise, these groups provide valuable recommendations that help guide City Commission decisions and strengthen our community.

Last week, the Gainesville City Commission welcomed advisory board and committee members to the Cotton Club Museum & Cultural Center for a Volunteer Meet and Greet hosted by the Office of the City Clerk. The gathering was attended by Mayor Harvey L. Ward, District 3 Commissioner Casey Willits and District 2 Commissioner Ed Book. It was a wonderful opportunity to thank these dedicated board and committee volunteers for their service, celebrate their contributions and strengthen the partnerships that help move Gainesville forward.

City Elections - Early voting begins Aug. 7

City of Gainesville elections are Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Registered voters citywide will elect an at-large mayor, and registered voters in districts 2 and 3 will elect a commissioner to represent their respective districts. Early voting is available daily Friday, Aug. 7 through Saturday, Aug. 15 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. There are five designated early voting sites across Gainesville:

• Supervisor of Elections Office: 515 N. Main St.
• Millhopper Branch Library: 3145 NW 43rd St.
• J. Wayne Reitz Union: 655 Reitz Union Drive, UF Campus
• Tower Road Branch Library: 3020 SW 75th St.
• Santa Fe College, S-029: 3000 NW 83rd St., SFC Campus

For additional information on the city election, visit the City of Gainesville website. For information on other races on this ballot, please visit the Supervisor of Elections website.

Neighborhood Parking Permits on Sale

Applications for neighborhood zone parking permits for the Aug. 1, 2026-July 31, 2027 program year are open. Please visit gainesvillefl.gov/parkingpermits for more information and to apply. The permit grace period began July 15 and runs through the end of August. Neighborhood zone permits are not required during this period, but parking enforcement remains in effect for all other city parking rules and regulations. If you have any questions prior to purchase, please contact Parking Operations at parking@gainesvillefl.gov or 352-334-2569.

Register for Summer and Fall Programs

Summer and Fall Swim Lessons

Registration for summer and fall swim lessons is open!

Teen Midnight Basketball - final game is Friday, Aug. 7

Teen Midnight Basketball offers monthly athletic opportunities for kids age 11-18 during late night, weekend hours when they might otherwise be involved in unsupervised activities. This program is held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center. 

After-School Program

The After-School Program provides children and youth in grades 1 through 8 with a safe and engaging environment, which incorporates hands-on activities. Registration is open.

Out of School Days

Out of School Days provides children and youth in grades 1 through 8 with a safe and engaging environment, which incorporates hands-on activities. Registration is open.

Other Upcoming Events

• Aug. 13: Food Trucks at Cornerstone
• Aug. 14: Free Fridays concert
• Aug. 20: Food Trucks at Cornerstone
• Aug. 21: Free Fridays concert
• Aug. 27: Food Trucks at Cornerstone
• Aug. 28: Free Fridays concert
• Sept. 4: Free Fridays concert
• Sept. 5: Friendship and Freedom (America250 event)

Gainesville Zero Waste News

Are You Ready to Test Your Recycling IQ?

Get ready to put your recycling knowledge to the test with the interactive waste sorting game Ready, Set, Sort! This online game is designed to educate individuals about proper recycling habits and reduce contamination in a fun and engaging way, all while providing positive reinforcement.

As you progress through each level of the game, you'll have the opportunity to choose from various reward graphics to create your dream park, set against the backdrop of iconic Gainesville landmarks. The objective is simple: drag and drop items into the correct waste stream. You'll receive congratulations for your accuracy each time you successfully sort items. Upon completing each level, you can select a reward to add to your dream park design. And don't miss the special Gainesville Solar Walk reward, available after finishing the final level.

Once you've completed the game, remember to print your certificate of achievement to proudly share with your friends. The best part is that Ready, Set, Sort! is dynamic, changing every time you play. Feel free to replay it as many times as you like to enhance your recycling knowledge, and have a blast while doing so!

New GNV On The Move

GNV On The Move is a half-hour look at the City of Gainesville's initiatives, programs, events and people.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Code Enforcement Manager Nicole Johnson. She discusses how her division works every day to protect public health, ensure housing safety, prevent neighborhood blight and preserve property values. We'll also take a look back at some of our favorite moments from this past year.

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