Newsroom

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department and the Nature Centers Commission citizen advisory board are seeking nominations for the annual Star Awards. Nominations are accepted in the categories of Star Volunteer, Star Good Neighbor and Star Green Business.

Families in the Porters neighborhood will once again say goodbye to summer and hello to the new school year with a Back-to-School Summer Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 11.

Mayor Lauren Poe announced "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond as the next selection for the Mayor’s Book Club. The public is invited to read and participate in discussion about the themes raised in the book. The only rule is that people enter the discussion with an open mind, and discuss the book with civility and positivity.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) is pleased to announce a recreation opportunity for a Gainesville family to enjoy a year’s worth of events, programs, tours and more - at no cost! Now in its fourth year, the Michelle Park Family Recreation Scholarship provides a low- to moderate-income family from Gainesville the opportunity to participate in nature, recreation and cultural activities which are offered by PRCA and other providers in the community, such as the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Arts and the Florida Museum of Natural History. This scholarship was made possible through the generous gift of an anonymous donor.

The award consists of one scholarship valued at $1,500, including a $250 gas gift card, that can be used to enjoy activities such as:

1. After-school activities and day camps for school breaks and teacher holidays, for children age six–12
2. Access to the Wellness Center at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Multipurpose Center
3. Tickets to cultural events, such as the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
4. An annual pass to Sweetwater Wetlands Park
5. Adult and youth recreation and sports activities such as golf lessons, swimming lessons and tennis lessons; free registration to participate in city-sponsored youth baseball, basketball, flag football, Pop Warner football or cheerleading

Criteria:

1. Family must be live within City of Gainesville city limits;
2. Family must meet the criteria of the Alachua County School Board Free or Reduced Lunch Program and
3. Family must be able to complete 20 volunteer hours during the award year or the following year.

Application packets are available at the Albert “Ray” Massey Westside Recreation Center, Clarence R. Kelly Community Center, Eastside Community Center, MLK Multipurpose Center, T. B. McPherson Center, Porters Community Center and the PRCA Administrative Office, which is located on the third floor of the Thomas Center, Building B. The packets are also available online at http://tinyurl.com/gnvScholarships.

The deadline for scholarship applications is Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Final scholarship award selection will be made by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Department’s evaluation team. Applications may be dropped off in person at the Administrative Office, Thomas Center, Building B, Third Floor, Reception Desk, 306 NE Sixth Ave., Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Please email Jennifer Harrington, program assistant, at HarringtoJL@cityofgainesville.org or mail the application to:
City of Gainesville
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department
PO Box 490, Station 24
Gainesville, FL 32627-0490

The City of Gainesville is holding a community forum for the finalists for the Equal Opportunity (EO) Director finalists Saturday, June 30 beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the GRU Multipurpose Room, which is located at 301 SE Fourth Ave. in downtown Gainesville.

The City of Gainesville is soliciting input regarding the 2018-2022 Five Year Consolidated Plan and 2018-2019 Annual Action Plan. The Consolidated Plan is a five-year housing and community development planning document that includes how the City of Gainesville will allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan.

The City of Gainesville has updated its Citizen Participation Plan for the City of Gainesville’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) grants received annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The public review and written comment period concludes Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce that the Gainesville Arts & Parks Foundation received a $10,000 donation for the Northeast 31st Avenue Park improvements from the GFWC Gainesville Woman’s Club. The improvement project for the park recently received approval for Wild Spaces and Public Places funding as well.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) needs  volunteer coaches for Pop Warner Football and Cheer. Pop Warner is more than a game; it promotes academic success and accountability in its participants. Coaches help to foster values such as fairness, caring, citizenship, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness in our youth.

First aid/CPR and specific cheer/football certifications are required to coach. PRCA will train and pay for certifications. Volunteers will need to pass a background check and must be able to follow guidelines of Pop Warner.

Coaches are required to attend a mandatory meeting held by the Putnam Athletic League, held Saturday, July 21. Practices start the first week of August, with games and practices running through October. Additional games may be played for league and regional championships. Cheer also participates in league and regional competitions, with the possibility of playing at the national championship on Saturday, Dec 8. Some travel will be required.

Those interested in coaching may contact Guillermo Chacon, recreation leader for sports, at 352-393-8527 or chacongm@cityofgainesville.org.

Participants will be able to provide additional feedback and comments on designs for the park. The designs were developed from the results of community focus groups and a survey conducted in May 2018. Free hot dogs and shaved ice will be available for guests.

In November 2016, Alachua County voters approved Wild Spaces and Public Places, a one-half percent sales tax to be collected in the county from Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2024, to acquire and improve environmentally-sensitive lands and to create, improve and maintain parks and recreational facilities. Improvements to the Northeast 31st Avenue Park is a Wild Spaces and Public Places project.