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Upcoming Week at a Glance
Click through for more information on each event or search below for featured event articles.
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City Closed Monday, Sept. 7 to Observe Labor Day
In observance of the Labor Day holiday, city offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7.
Residential curbside collection for garbage, recycling and yard waste will not be impacted by the holiday.
No RTS bus service is scheduled for the holiday. Please plan accordingly.
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Change in billing for Solid Waste Services and Stormwater Management Utility
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.
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America250: Civil War Era - Friendship and Freedom | This play follows Addy, an escaped enslaved girl, as she starts a new life in the north during the Civil War. Visitors will be able to tour a one-room schoolhouse and enjoy a performance by a choral group singing spirituals and freedom songs, along with choral lessons with the 1000 Voices of Florida, Inc. | | | |
Community Meeting: Help shape the future of Southwest Gainesville | The first Southwest Study Area community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept.16 at 6:30 p.m. Time for questions and community input will follow a brief presentation. The goal is to identify strengths, challenges and priorities by hearing from the neighbors, property owners, operators of businesses and others invested in the area's future. | | | | |
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University Avenue Resurfacing In-Person Public Meeting Tonight
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proposing several changes to University Avenue, a state roadway, between Gale Lemerand Drive and Northeast Waldo Road. The state project includes resurfacing approximately 2.3 miles of University Avenue, extending the median at Fletcher Drive/Northwest 18th Street and creating a new pedestrian crossing near the Matheson History Museum.
The proposed crossing would include a pedestrian hybrid beacon to connect the Sweetwater Greenway across University Avenue. The city supports improvements that advance Gainesville’s Vision Zero goal of making travel safer for people walking, biking, driving and using transit. The Sweetwater Greenway itself is part of the city’s Downtown Strategic Plan and has been identified as a transportation priority.
Because University Avenue is a state road, FDOT is responsible for the proposed roadway improvements and is leading the project and public engagement process. FDOT is accepting public comments on the proposal through Sept. 14.
In-Person Meeting: Wednesday, Sept. 2
Matheson History Museum (513 E. University Ave.)
Open house: 4:30-6 p.m.
Presentation: 6 p.m.
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Youth programs earn DCF licensure
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) has successfully completed an extensive process to meet updated Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) requirements for licensed school-age childcare. After-school programs at the Albert “Ray” Massey Recreation Center, Porters Community Center and Eastside Community Center are now licensed by DCF.
The licensure builds on the safe, quality care these programs have long provided while meeting additional state standards for staffing and training, supervision, health and safety, facilities, transportation, emergency procedures and other areas of program operations. Meeting the requirements across three facilities took considerable work by PRCA staff and support from departments across the city. PRCA also obtained a DCF Licensed Facility Director Credential, and 100% of site staff passed the required DCF licensure exams.
“Keeping our kids safe and enriched is always our highest priority,” said Youth Services and Education Programs Manager Cherie Kelly. “High-quality after-school programs give children a safe place to spend their afternoons, but they also provide opportunities to learn, be active, build relationships and develop skills that help them succeed. Earning these licenses reflects the work our team puts into these programs every day.”
The city’s after-school programs serve about 100 children each day, offering one-on-one literacy tutoring, active play, nutritional snacks, youth resilience and well-being activities, transportation assistance and enrichment programs. Research has linked quality after-school programs with improved academic performance, attendance, behavior, and social and emotional health, while providing important support for working families. That access remains a challenge in Florida, where three out of four families report wanting an after-school program but being unable to access one.
PRCA also recently completed the inaugural Florida After-School Advocacy Network Fellowship, another step in strengthening the programs and opportunities available to Gainesville children and families.
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E-Scooter Dos, Don'ts and Safety Tips
Always follow these safety guidelines when riding an e-scooter around Gainesville:
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Do:
- Wear a helmet
- Obey all traffic laws, signs and signals
- Follow all the same rules as bicyclists
- Ride with the flow of traffic
- Ride as close to the edge or curb of the roadway
- Yield to pedestrians
- Must be 18+ years of age to ride
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Don't:
- Do not ride at night if the lights are inoperable
- Do not ride while wearing headphones
- Never ride under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
For more tips on the e-scooters, visit our website.
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The Art of Death: Plein air painting at Evergreen Cemetery | Evergreen Cemetery is hosting a plein air art event. Artists will capture the natural beauty of Evergreen Cemetery starting on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. through Sunday, Oct. 18 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. An art reception will be hosted from 5-8p.m. on Halloween. | | | | |
Business Improvement Grant Program is Accepting Applications
Gainesville business owners of establishments within the Community Reinvestment Area are invited to apply for financial incentives to help make repairs and improvements to their physical spaces. The Business Improvement Grant Program offers a 50 percent matching grant, paid as a reimbursement, for eligible improvements.
- Tier 1: Up to $5,000 (rolling deadline)
- Tier 2: Up to $50,000 (deadline is Feb. 1, 2027)
- Tier 3: Up to $150,000 (deadline is Feb. 1, 2027)
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Youth Arts & Well-being for Safer Communities (ONOP Final Symposium) | |
This symposium celebrates Gainesville's participation in the national One Nation One Project initiative. Together, we will reflect on the journey, share lessons learned, highlight innovative partnerships, and explore how arts, culture, and community collaboration can continue to foster healthier, safer, and more connected communities.
This event is free and open to the public; however, seats are limited and pre-registration online is required.
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Fall Swim Lessons
Registration for fall swim lessons is open!
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.
SOAR - Science-Oriented Activities and Recreation: Kids and teens of all ages are welcome to join the fun and learn about their surroundings through hands-on activities. Held the second Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m., September-May, outside the Elite Training Center (2626 E. University Ave.).
Start Smart Sports helps parents of preschoolers 3-5 years old objectively measure their child's abilities. As the programs progress and children show improvement, the skills and exercises are altered so that each child remains challenged while using age-appropriate equipment. They will learn concepts and skills including: sport specific skills, preparation for organized sports, building self-esteem and confidence, and social skills. Start Smart Basketball registration is open.
Lil' Cooking Club provides preschoolers ages 3 to 5 with a fun, social and creative environment to learn and be introduced to culinary arts. As a hands-on activity, with required parent engagement, preschoolers will learn concepts and skills including: language and vocabulary, fine motor coordination, mathematical skills, problem solving and social skills. Registration is open.
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With the anticipation of cooler temps, our fall nature programs are starting back up! Join us at Morningside Nature Center this fall for some family-friendly experiences!
Barnyard Buddies: Come down to the Living History Farm at Morningside Nature Center to say moo, cluck, baa, and oink to our cows, chickens, sheep and pigs. Children, accompanied by their adult, can meet and learn about all of our farm animals while helping to give them their afternoon snacks.
Farm and Forest Friends: Venture through the woods and onto the farm as we learn and explore! Begin your journey meeting one of our friendly classroom animals, then follow your guide as we learn about the birds, bugs and plants on our way to help the farm animals with their morning feed!
Living History Saturdays: Visit the Living History Farm and experience a time when the rooster’s crow and the rising sun - not an alarm clock - welcomed a new day! During Living History Days, interpreters portray day-to-day life on an 1870 Florida farm. Step back in time, enjoy nature and experience Florida as it was!
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Gainesville Zero Waste News
Beyond the Bin: The Circular Recycling Economy
In this week's Zero Waste News, we’re diving into the concept of the circular recycling economy, an innovative approach that goes beyond just trash or just recycling. While the idea of recycling is well-known, a circular economy takes it a step further by focusing on redesigning, reusing, and repurposing materials to keep them in circulation for as long as possible. This obviously reduces waste, but it also conserves natural resources and simply makes more sense.
Understanding the Circular Economy
The circular recycling economy is built on the principles of treating “waste” as a design flaw and working to keep products and materials in use while regenerating natural systems. Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take-make-waste" model, a circular economy aims to create a closed-loop system where the materials that make our items are continuously repurposed, refurbished or recycled. By doing so, the need for raw materials is reduced, lowering the environmental footprint of manufacturing and consumption.
How to Participate
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Choose Products with Minimal Packaging: Opt for items that are package free. If that’s not an option, choose items in reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging.
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Support Second-Hand Markets: Buying or donating items to thrift stores or participating in swap events helps extend the life cycle of products. Gainesville businesses have made great strides to build a more robust circular economy.
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Repair, Don’t Replace: Whenever possible, repair broken items instead of replacing them. This reduces waste and encourages the design of more durable products.
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Hurricane Season Preparedness
The City of Gainesville encourages our community to be prepared and create a plan of action this hurricane season. Neighbors are urged to register with the city’s Alert GNV mass notification system to receive phone, email, or text alerts for hurricanes and other emergencies. To sign up, please visit http://AlertGNV.com.
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City Commission Meetings
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Thursday, Sept. 3: 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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