PRCA News

Improvements to the drainage in the children’s play area at Depot Park are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 14-Monday, Nov. 21. The playground is set to reopen Tuesday, Nov. 22. During this time, the rest of the park will remain open, including the promenade, walking trails and pavilion.

The restrooms at Possum Creek Park, located at 4009 NW 53rd Ave., will be closed for painting on Monday, Oct. 31 and Tuesday, Nov. 1. Temporary restroom facilities will be available. We apologize for any inconvenience to park visitors.

The skate park at Albert "Ray" Massey (Westside) Park will be closed to the public on Sunday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park is located at 1001 NW 34th Street. The skate park will be closed to accommodate a special event, the 2nd Annual Halloweener Derby. 

The soulful sound of blues will usher in the Downtown Festival & Art Show weekend Friday, Nov. 4 with a free Downtown Blues Concert on the newly renovated Bo Diddley Plaza 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 352walls/Gainesville Urban Art Initiative kicks off a new season in October with a series of lectures, masterclasses, murals and hands-on workshops in an innovative collaboration with the University of Florida School of Art + Art History. The 352walls Masterclass Series features internationally acclaimed urban/street artists who are currently teaching at diverse universities. These new educational programs complement the 352walls mission to position Gainesville as a vibrant cultural destination, stimulate urban renewal, foster tourism and economic development, beautify the urban landscape, boost community pride and serve as a platform for urban art studies.

Join us at Morningside Nature Center’s Living History Farm for the Fall Old Florida Seed and Story Swap Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., presented by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in partnership with Forage Farm. This free event focuses on the preservation of our precious agricultural heritage and diversifying your own garden by bringing your seeds to swap with others in our gardening community. Please, no live plants, seeds older than five years or seeds from invasive exotics. No seeds to swap? Come on down anyway and see what’s growing in our 1870 heirloom kitchen garden! Meet fellow gardeners, while enjoying Morningside’s historic farm, including the one room schoolhouse, log cabin and barnyard.

Albert “Ray” Massey (Westside) Park is going to the dogs for a whole weekend of family fun! The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) has partnered with University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM) and Climb for Cancer Foundation to bring three great, dog-centered events together Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23. Westside Park is located at 1001 NW 34th St. in Gainesville.

The City of Gainesville 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.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce the October lineup of “Events on the Promenade” at Depot Park, which is located at 200 SE Depot Ave. in Gainesville. Each Friday evening features a DJ from 7-9 p.m.; Saturday evenings feature live music from 7-9 p.m. and Sundays feature family-friendly, hands-on activities from 2-4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and maybe a picnic to help them sit and relax.

The City of Gainesville Public Recreation and Parks Board is seeking nominations to recognize those exceptional volunteers who have contributed much of their time and energy to promoting recreational activities throughout Gainesville. Each year, the board plans to recognize two or three volunteers with the Albert “Ray” Massey Citizen Volunteer Award.