PRCA News

This fall, downtown Gainesville will begin a colorful transformation and enter into a new phase of its cultural renaissance. 352walls/The Gainesville Urban Art Initiative will feature the work of 13 renowned international muralists and 13 of the region’s best artists, as well. The 352walls experience is scheduled to begin Friday, Oct. 30 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 25, then resuming in January 2016. Afterward, the murals will be available for viewing year-round.

The soulful sound of blues will usher in the Downtown Festival & Art Show weekend Friday, Nov. 13 with a free Downtown Blues Concert on the new stage (located on the corner of Southwest Second Avenue and Southwest Second Street) from 7-10 p.m. The North Central Florida Blues Society is pleased to announce an evening under the stars featuring three incredible blues performances.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce the reopening of Cofrin Nature Park, which is located at 4810 NW Eighth Ave. in Gainesville. As of Friday, Oct. 23, the park will be open its regular hours, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m., seven days a week.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce the reopening of the restrooms at Kiwanis Challenge Park, which is located at 2101 NW 39th Ave.

Join the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department for a Drool and Ghoul Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest and Pool Party Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This annual event is open to well-behaved dogs each year at the H. Spurgeon Cherry (Westside) Pool, which is located at 1001 NW 31st Dr. The pool and splash pad will be open to dogs, and there will be a costume contest, photos with your pet(s) and great local pet-business vendors and free dog baths!

The restrooms at Possum Creek Park, located at 4009 NW 53rd Avenue, are closed temporarily for a repair. It is not anticipated to take more than a day to complete. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Local musicians return to the “Free Fridays” Concert Series Friday, Oct. 23, from 8-10 p.m., featuring a tribute concert to Neil Young. Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Neil Young is described on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website as "one of rock and roll's greatest songwriters and performers.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1995, and again as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997. He was also a member of the iconic quartet Crosby Stills, Nash & Young.

Wester Joseph’s Stereo Vudu returns to the "Free Fridays” concert series in downtown Gainesville Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in cooperation with the Gainesville-Alachua County Art in Public Places Trust (APPT), the Gainesville-Alachua County Cultural Affairs Board (CAB), the Nature Centers Commission (NCC) and the Public Recreation and Parks Board (PRPB), is seeking nominations for the Arts Awards, Star Awards and the Albert “Ray” Massey Citizen Volunteer Awards for citizens who have made outstanding efforts to promote cultural and arts activities, environmental awareness and recreational activities.

- The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is gearing up for another season of great games for Youth Coed Basketball. Through fitness, fair play and sportsmanship, this program teaches youth, age 5-14, how character counts on and off the court. There are no try outs, and each participant gets to play. Registration starts Monday, Oct. 5, and runs until Thursday, Dec. 17. If you register by Thursday, Oct. 22, you will receive a $10 discount.