On September 27, 2018, the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) joined the ranks of elite parks, recreation and cultural affairs agencies across the country by earning reaccreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This accomplishment was awarded during the 2018 NRPA Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) invites residents to give their feedback on conceptual designs for Northside Park (5701 NW 34th Blvd.) at an upcoming open house. The open house is scheduled at two times in order to provide attendees a variety of times to give their feedback. Both open houses are Wednesday, June 28 at the Gainesville/Alachua County Senior Recreation Center, which is located at 5701 NW 34th Blvd.; they are from 2:30-4:30 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is advising residents and visitors to be especially cautious when visiting local nature parks due to the extremely warm and dry conditions and increased wildfire risk in our region. The danger of wildfires is considered “extreme,” prompting a ban on using grills in city nature parks. Those using grills at recreation parks should be vigilant and watch for any stray sparks or embers.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is providing an opportunity for interested citizens to give their feedback on future plans for the Kiwanis/Girls Scout Park, which is located at Northwest Eighth Street and Eighth Place. Interested citizens are invited to complete the survey through Monday, May 28, 2017. It may be viewed online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/KiwanisGirlsScout.

The Gainesville City Commission will host its second Telephone Town Hall, talkGNV, to discuss the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department’s (PRCA) master plan, PRCA Vision 2020. City officials will answer caller questions about the master plan, including future enhancements to Gainesville’s park facilities and recreation opportunities, as well as discuss potential funding methods.

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.

See what’s in bloom with colorful native plants for your landscape and garden! They are adapted to variable weather conditions and they are easy to maintain. Take advantage of the largest offering of native plants in north Florida during the 2015 Spring Native Plant Sale at Morningside Nature Center Saturday, April 4, open to the general public from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An exclusive member’s sale is Friday, April 3, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and is open to members of the Friends of Nature Parks and the Florida Native Plant Society only. Memberships are available at the gate. Cash, checks and credit/debit cards accepted at the sale.

On Thursday, March 5, the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in cooperation with the Gainesville-Alachua County Cultural Affairs Board, the Nature Centers Commission, the Public Recreation and Parks Board and Gainesville-Alachua County Art in Public Places Trust, will present the Arts Awards, Star Awards, Albert “Ray” Massey Citizen Volunteer Award and the Public Art Award to citizens who have made outstanding efforts to promote cultural and arts activities, environmental awareness and recreational activities in 2014.