In just a few months, the community will gain a 32-acre urban park and, hopefully, a boost to its economy and sustainability.
Planning for Depot Park began about 20 years ago, and the project is both within its $5.9 million budget and on schedule for a soft opening August 1, said Nathalie McCrate, the project manager for the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency.
Before the location became a job site for many employees, it was a place where industries dumped hazardous material, McCrate said.
Although cleanup happened years before the project broke ground, workers still had to follow special handling procedures.
“It was the biggest hurdle, but also the greatest opportunity,” she said. “It’s great to take something undesirable and make it desirable.”
A 20-foot-wide waterfront promenade will serve as the main attraction, McCrate said. Walkways will wrap around a stormwater pond used to treat runoff from downtown Gainesville, cleaning it before it enters Sweetwater Branch Creek and Payne’s Prairie.
The park will also allow kids of all ages to learn in a playground that emulates historic Gainesville landmarks, McCrate said.
Landscape Structures Inc. designed the playground.
The Florida Museum of Natural History, the Florida Paleontological Society and the Florida Geological Foundation donated real fossils, which guests can uncover in a splash pad, where water will jet from the ground.
Depot Park, McCrate said, will also include hydration stations for bicyclists and a Share the Road Memorial.
The CRA, she said, is waiting for approval to lease the Historic Depot Building in the park’s north side. It hopes to open a general store with snacks and extras, such as sunscreen and towels.
The park will host festivals such as food truck rallies and wine tastings, lead project manager Cindi Harvey said.
“There’s a little bit of something for everyone,” she said.
A rusted metal sign marking the entrance to Depot Park, which is being constructed in dedication to Gainesville’s industrial sector, evokes the history behind the land in downtown that used to be used as a railroad station.
