Wild Spaces & Public Places Newsletter

Thelma Boltin Trailhead and Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment: Community Workshop #2

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, WSPP is hosting the second community workshop for the Thelma Boltin Trailhead and Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Matheson History Museum

513 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL

WSPP and project consultant NV5, Inc. will provide a brief overview of the project, summarize community input received to date, and present draft conceptual plans developed based on feedback from the first community workshop held in June 2026.



Attendees will have an opportunity to review the draft concepts, ask questions, and provide additional feedback to help inform the next phase of the project.

Morningside Nature Center Master Plan Revision

On Thursday, Oct. 15, WSPP will request the City Commission approve funding to revise the Morningside Nature Center Master Plan. The plan evaluates existing conditions and provides recommendations for future improvements to the nature park.

The revised master plan will reconsider previous capital improvement recommendations to ensure they are implementable, responsive to staff and community priorities and meet the long-term needs of the Morningside Nature Center.



We encourage all neighbors to participate in city public meetings. For specific information on ways to participate, please visit the City of Gainesville's Public Meeting Participation webpage.

T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex Commission Approval

On Thursday, Sept. 3, the City Commission approved the conceptual plans for the T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex: Building Renovation and Site Master Plan project.

With this vote, the project moves from the planning to the design phase. As part of the next phase, the city has contracted Monarch Design Group in an amount of $393,124.35 to provide professional design services for the renovation of the T.B. McPherson Recreation Center.

WSPP will continue to touch base with the community throughout the design phase to ensure the project meets expectations and needs. Currently, the city has budgeted $3,500,000.00 for the building renovation. City staff is working on incorporating the park improvements into the WSPP future work plan.

Bivens Arm Nature Park Marsh Restoration and Boardwalk Replacement

The marsh restoration work at Bivens Arm Nature Park is nearly complete.

In July 2026, marsh restoration work began at Bivens Arm Nature Park to restore water levels that, over time, have been lowered through channelization and wetland draining. Once this restoration work is complete, the park's aging boardwalk system will be replaced using durable materials to increase longevity.

Oelrich Construction, Inc., a locally owned business, is overseeing the project for a total cost of $3,510,536.00. WSPP is funding the boardwalk replacement for $2,179,460.00. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in spring 2027.

Following the completion of the marsh restoration and boardwalk replacement, the park will undergo entryway improvements to upgrade the parking area, restrooms and entry amenities to enhance ADA access and connectivity throughout the park. 

Wilhelmina Johnson Center Renovation

Renovation of the Wilhelmina Johnson Center is moving along!

Recent progress includes the installation of kitchen and bathroom plumbing as well as electrical work to support new outlets and parking lot lights.

J.E. Decker Construction Group, LLC, a local business, is overseeing the project for a total estimated cost of $2,047,177.49. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in spring 2027.

Recently, WSPP made changes to our webpages to make it easier to view information about our projects.

Each project listed on our webpages will feature a short description of the project, estimated cost or budget and information about the selected contractor or consultant.

For projects with larger scopes of work, an additional dedicated project webpage is available.

This past month, the WSPP team traveled to Orlando to attend the 2026 Florida Recreation and Parks Association (FRPA) Annual Conference.

WSPP is committed to continuous professional development to ensure our projects are efficient, accessible and innovative. Our very own, Betsy Waite even co-presented a session on empowering park professionals with strategies to design, permit and construct new park and improvement projects.

Thank you FRPA for having us!