PRCA News

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in cooperation with Shakerag Culture Center, Inc., is pleased to announce the upcoming Jewel Box Concert at the Historic Thomas Center Thursday, June 11, featuring iconic bluegrass legends Missy Raines, Mike Compton, David Grier and Shad Cobb as the Helen Highwater Stringband. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door - cash or check only, please.

On Thursday, June 18, at 10 a.m., thousands of children and adults will unite at aquatics facilities around the globe to set a new global record for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL). The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is joining Team WLSL to once again break a world record and send the message that swimming lessons save lives. The global record attempt will take place at three Gainesville locations: Andrew R. Mickle Pool, Dwight H. Hunter (Northeast) Pool and H. Spurgeon Cherry (Westside) Pool. The event is free to all participants! After the swim lesson stay and relax at the pool. Go down the slide, jump off the diving boards or just hangout with your children by the pool.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is happy to announce the promotion of John Weber to Parks Manager. Weber will be responsible for managing a staff more than 20 employees that make up the Park Operations team. This team also utilizes a supervised inmate crew to assist with many of our repetitive labor tasks. Some of the responsibilities of the Parks Operations Division include the care and upkeep of city-owned athletic fields, the playground safety inspection program, landscape maintenance in city parks and medians and maintenance of the irrigation systems within the city parks system.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce that Russell Etling has accepted the position as the Cultural Affairs Manager. Etling was selected from a regional and national search that totaled 84 applicants.

Prescribed Burn at Morningside Nature Center today, Wednesday May 20, 2015. Barnyard Buddies will not take place today.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) is happy to announce that seasonal passes to enjoy the Sweetwater Wetlands Park are now available. The seasonal pass costs $25, and is valid from May through September 2015.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in cooperation with Shakerag Culture Center, Inc., is pleased to announce the upcoming Jewel Box Concert at the Historic Thomas Center is Sunday, May 17th, featuring internationally acclaimed countertenor, Terry Barber. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door - cash or check only.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Department is happy to announce that Sweetwater Wetlands Park, formerly known as the Paynes Prairie Sheetflow Restoration Project, is now open to the public on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to sunset. The entry fee is $5 per vehicle or $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. The park is located at 325 SW Williston Road. For directions, a map can be viewed at https://goo.gl/maps/bK9YN.