May 30, 2023

Bring the whole family to the Open House and tour the Alachua County Sports & Event Center at Celebration Pointe on Saturday, June 10, 2023, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This fun, free, family event includes appearances by Albert & Alberta and the Gator Cheerleaders. There will be bounce houses, face painting (and other kids’ activities), a DJ, and food trucks. Sports demonstrations and activities are planned (Basketball, Pickleball, Volleyball, and Batting Cages).

It is time to celebrate the opening of the Alachua County Sports and Events Center at Celebration Pointe, which is the culmination of years of research, planning, negotiation, and thoughtful, strategic partnership with Alachua County’s partners at Celebration Pointe.

Find out more and let us know if you are coming.

The pool at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 S.E. 134th Avenue, Micanopy) is now open. The pool hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day weekend.

Alachua County residents can benefit from the membership pricing of $20 for the entire season. In addition, day passes are available to the pool for $5. Patrons are encouraged to purchase both passes online in advance (users must first create an account).

The pool is also available for rent on the weekends during off hours for parties or events. 

Alachua County, in coordination with our local partners, is hosting a Climate Fair on Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 S.E. 134th Avenue, Micanopy) to announce the results of the soon-to-be-released climate vulnerability analysis, and to begin community conversations around the creation of an Alachua County Climate Action Plan. The free event is in two parts, a public workshop from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in which the results of the analysis are discussed, and a Climate Fair from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with games and entertainment for the family, as well as vendor booths for those organizations doing work related to climate change and climate resilience.

In-person space is limited at the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. event at the Camp Cuscowilla Meeting Lodge, but a livestream option will be available.

Learn more about the climate fair.

The Alachua County Public Works Department recently announced that the Department will soon be able to repair twice as many potholes in a day thanks to the purchase of two new Falco 4-ton asphalt trailers. 

Having two new trailers will enable the Department to organize two independent crews, which can work simultaneously in different parts of the County, doubling the number of potholes repaired daily. The trailers are self-contained and come with everything needed to repair potholes, including a built-in burner to keep the asphalt warm and a small roller to compact it once it’s placed in the hole.

The new trailers can easily be pulled by a standard F250 pickup truck, which does not require a CDL license to drive, unlike the old 20-year-old F750 patch truck. This will enable more employees the opportunity to work on the patch crew. The trailers were purchased with existing gas tax funds, not the recently passed Infrastructure Surtax. The Infrastructure Surtax funds are earmarked for much larger repaving projects that will be starting this summer.

Alachua County continues its invitation to residents to participate in an online survey and internet speed test.

The survey is part of Alachua County's Local Technology Planning Team's Broadband Initiative to determine the internet/broadband needs of all residents of Alachua County. The primary goal is to identify unserved and underserved areas and work to determine a strategy for increasing the availability and accessibility of internet/broadband services in Alachua County.

Learn more and participate in the survey and speed test.

The Joint Water and Climate Policy Board is seeking applications to fill four openings for the Citizen Climate Advisory Committee (CCAC). The CCAC meets in person at the Grace Knight Conference Room on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is July 14, 2023.

The CCAC provides an opportunity for citizen involvement in climate change issues and concerns affecting Alachua County, the City of Gainesville, and the surrounding municipalities. The committee advises the Joint Water and Climate Policy Board on bold and innovative climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, policies, and target goals. The primary task of the CCAC is to advise on creating a Countywide Climate Action Plan that will guide policy and decision-making in multiple jurisdictions. The committee will also engage with relevant stakeholders, agencies, non-profits, and the community to ensure that neighborhoods and communities most impacted or disadvantaged by climate change are considered in developing policy recommendations and action strategies.

Find out more about the Citizen Climate Advisory Committee vacancies.

Commercial Horticulture Programs

Environmental Horticulture Program

Agriculture and Natural Resources Program