GNV News

Upcoming Week at a Glance

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

May 6: Barnyard Buddies

May 7: Food Trucks at Cornerstone

May 8: City Hall Plaza Ribbon-Cutting

May 8: Free Fridays concert

May 12: Doing Business with the City

May 12: Eco Buddies

May 13: Barnyard Buddies

Imagine GNV Comprehensive Plan Update

Thank you to our neighbors and community organizations that have engaged with the city on comprehensive planning efforts. Over the past several weeks, the ImagineGNV core team have been carefully reviewing, evaluating and responding to the feedback received. The feedback was collected through community engagement, public meetings, workshops and from other avenues submitted on the draft. A revised ImagineGNV draft has been prepared through strategic collaboration with chapter leads and city departments. A revised and revamped Data and Analysis draft, as well as a comparison "crosswalk" document comparing the existing Comprehensive Plan and the ImagineGNV draft have been prepared. This process also included coordination with other agencies on state review and statutory requirements. All of these efforts have led to updated ImagineGNV and Data & Analysis draft documents that are available to the public that show the great collaboration, care and efforts of our community. We look forward to the next public meeting in May and we encourage questions, concerns, inquiries and feedback to be sent to planning@gainesvillefl.gov or 352-334-5023.

Reduced RTS bus service May 2-10

The City of Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) has scheduled reduced service from Saturday, May 2-Sunday, May 10. The reduced service schedule is indicated on the RTS website, under the schedule tab.

Community Partnership Grant Applications Available through June 1

The Community Partnership Grant Program offers up to $5,000 in matching grant funds to assist local community organizations to provide special programming within the GCRA district boundaries. Special events can raise awareness, encourage economic development, and a sense of community. If you have any events coming up between Aug. 1-Oct 31, 2026, please consider applying before June 1, 2026.

City Hall Plaza Refresh Project Updates

The City Hall Plaza Refresh Project is expected to continue through April 2026. The contractor is working on the finishing details of the project in anticipation of the May 8 ribbon-cutting.

Family Friendly Programs

Weekly programs:

Barnyard Buddies: Meet and learn about the farm animals at Morningside on Wednesdays at 3 p.m., September through May.

Eco Buddies: Join us at Hogtown Creek Nature Center and learn through play about the wonderful world of nature all around us with rotating weekly themes! Recommended for toddlers-preschoolers. Held Tuesdays, January-May at 3 p.m. (small fee per child)

Monthly programs:

Farm and Forest Friends: Venture through the woods and onto the farm as we learn and explore! One Friday each month from 10-11 a.m., October through May. (small fee per child)

Living History Farm: The Living History Farm at Morningside comes to life with costumed living history guides on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., September through May.

SOAR - Science-Oriented Activities and Recreation: Kids age 5-12 join the fun and learn about their surroundings through hands-on activities. Held the second Thursday from 3:30-4:30 p.m., September-May.

Register for Spring and Summer Programs

Lifeguard Certification Continues

Want a rewarding and fun summer job? Get certified as a professional American Red Cross Lifeguard! To prepare future lifeguards, the City of Gainesville is holding lifeguard certification classes this summer for those age 15 and up. There are six sessions (each with five lessons) to choose from; the final session begins May 27.

Spring Swim Lessons

Registration for spring swim lessons open!

Earth Academy Day Camp (rising 1st-5th graders)

Registration for this nature-based summer camp is open.

Adventures in Play Summer Day Camp (rising 1st-5th graders)

The Adventures in Play summer camp will keep young kids busy during the day with a host of fun and enriching activities.

Teen Midnight Basketball

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. 

Teen Life Summer Day Camp

Registration for this middle school-aged summer camp is open! There are eight one-week sessions with something to interest everyone!

Summer Hoops

Registration for Summer Hoops is open for kids in 6th-8th grade! The courts are calling for a summer of fun and competition! Come join our coed basketball program! Build character and leadership by “Pursuing Victory with Honor” for life skills to use on and off the court. Summer Hoops is about fairness and respect for all players, regardless of skill.

Other Upcoming Events

• May 14: Bilingual Story Time
• May 14: Science-Oriented Activities and Recreation
• May 15: Farm and Forest Friends
• May 15: Free Fridays concert
• May 20: Journey to Juneteenth kickoff
• May 22: Free Fridays concert
• May 23: Florida Emancipation Day Celebration
• May 28: Music and Movement
• May 29: Free Fridays concert

Gainesville Zero Waste News

Waste Stream Investigators: Following Up

So your home or business performed a waste audit – a careful analysis of the trash you produce. What did you find?

Probably a lot of packaging and likely a surprising amount of organic material – a good reminder it’s never too late to start that compost pile or worm bin.

Now, what would you find if you looked through your own recycle bin? While recycling is great as a last ditch effort to keep certain materials out of the landfill, let’s look for ways to rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, refill and repurpose.

Here are three small zero waste tweaks you can try implementing by looking in your own recycle bin:

1. Ditch the carton: Cartons are no longer considered recyclable, but you can make your own plant milks, fruit juices, chicken broths and just about anything else you used to get in cartons. You’ll save money, enjoy fresher, better tasting food and be a zero waste hero.
2. Try a filter or just the tap: Got a bunch of water bottles cracking and crunching around in your blue bin? It’s great you’re recycling, but have you ever considered using a water filter? Maybe skip the cheaper filters that will break after a year and invest in something more durable.
3. Make your own soda: Love soda? So do we! That’s why we invested in an at-home soda machine. There are many available secondhand, and the tanks of gas are refillable at local stores. Love beer or wine? Consider home brewing or buying from local bottlers that will work on a container deposit system (just like the milkman in the old days). You’ll end up saving money and enjoying a higher quality libation.

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 conversations with At-large Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut and Gainesville Housing Authority Chief Operating Officer Malcolm Kiner.

City Commission Meetings

• Thursday, May 7: City Commission meeting

For a listing of other board/committee meetings and agendas, please visit our website.

Live meeting coverage is available on Cox Cable Channel 12, Roku TV, Fire TV and the City of Gainesville website.

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