Newsroom

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) draws another successful Summer Heatwave program to a close by featuring two great events. Several coed basketball championship games will be played Thursday, Aug. 2 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (MLK) and a Back-to-School Pool Party will take place at Andrew R. Mickle Sr. Pool Sunday, Aug. 5.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) is pleased to offer another year of Foundations Academy. The after-school program takes place from Monday, Aug. 20–Friday, May 31, and is available at four convenient locations: Albert “Ray” Massey Recreation Center, Eastside Community Center, Clarence R. Kelly Community Center and Porters Community Center.

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 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.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) and the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) invite everyone to splash into the season at the Summer Heatwave Pool Party Friday, June 1 at Dwight H. Hunter (Northeast) Pool (1100 NE 14th St.). Admission to the pool is free during the party from 3-7 p.m.

At Summer Heatwave Pool Parties, youth swim, dance, listen to music and enjoy food grilled up by officers and cadets from GPD. Participants must sign in at the front entrance to the pool to receive a wristband. The dates, times and locations for Heatwave Pool Parties are:

This year’s party also features sign-up for both Summer Heatwave Basketball and Pop Warner Football and Cheer. Parents will be able to pick up registration packets for both sports.

Registration information for Summer Heatwave Basketball is available online at http://www.cityofgainesville.org/ParksRecreationCulturalAffairs/YouthProgramsCamps/TeenSummerPrograms.aspx.

Registration for Pop Warner Football and Cheer is available online at http://www.cityofgainesville.org/ParksRecreationCulturalAffairs/Sports,AquaticsFitness/Athletics/PopWarner.aspx.

Since 2008, Summer Heatwave has been a partnership between PRCA, GPD, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney’s Office 8th Judicial Court Circuit, and has helped thousands of local youth have a safe and enjoyable summer experience.

For program information, please contact Scott Chase, program coordinator, at 352-393-8751 or ChaseSA@cityofgainesville.org.

Score more fun and fitness with Pop Warner Football or Cheerleading! The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Department provides a great opportunity to be active and learn with Pop Warner sports. We teach our youth that character counts through fairness, caring, citizenship, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness, with a focus on academic achievement.

The mission of Pop Warner Little Scholars is to enable young people to benefit from participation in team sports and activities in a safe and structured environment. Through this active participation, Pop Warner programs teach fundamental values, skills and knowledge that young people will use throughout their lives.

Pop Warner seeks to provide fun athletic learning opportunities for children, while emphasizing the importance of academic success. Football and cheerleading participants that excel in the classroom may be eligible for Scholastic All-American recognition.

Participants in football, age five to 13, compete against peers of similar age and size. Pop Warner is the only youth football program that sets and enforces a strict age and weight matrix to help reduce the chance of injury. Pop Warner programs have no tryouts.

Our cheerleading program teaches skill and discipline for children, age five to 11. All participants that meet Pop Warner’s scholastic requirements are accepted.

For both football and cheerleading, there are recreational and competitive teams. The football and cheer teams with younger participants, the Tiny-Mites and Mitey-Mites, are considered recreational leagues, focusing on the fundamentals of the football and cheer. The Junior Pee Wee and Junior Varsity for football and Junior Pee Wee for cheerleading, compete at the league level, with the potential advancement to regional and national competition. There are additional fees if a team advances to the regional or national level. Information is detailed in the Parent Packet available on the website.

Coaches are a vital part of Pop Warner’s success. Volunteer to make a meaningful impact on young lives! Parents are also needed for team support and fundraising. Information and volunteer applications are available on the website.

For information on registration, fees and uniforms, please contact the administrative office at 352-334-5067, Mon.–Fri. from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. or visit www.tinyurl.com/gnvPopWarner.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) is pleased to announce the 2018 Aquatic Leadership Camp registration is open. This exciting week-long summer camp is offered for youth 11-14 years old, with six sessions available at H. Spurgeon Cherry (Westside) Pool, starting June 11.