About 50 people gathered to celebrate the official city dedication of Possum Creek Park on Thursday afternoon.
The ceremony included a brief speech from Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe, skateboard demonstrations and a raffle sponsored by FreeRide Skate Shop at Possum Creek.
During his speech, Lowe described the upgrades to the park, such as a solar powered system for watering the grounds.
The renovation of the park was funded by a $400,000 Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program grant according to records for Capital Projects on the City of Gainesville website. The records showed that the project was originally projected to be completed in July 2008.
The original deadline was pushed back due to problems receiving permits and rezoning, according to Steven Phillips, director of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The funds provided by the state went to the parts of the park completed in April, when the park initially reopened.
Phillips said in an e-mail that half of the funds for the grant came from the state and the other half from the city. He said an additional $285,000 was funded by the Wild Spaces and Public Places program.
Ludovica Weaver, the marketing technician for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, said upgrades to the park include nature trails, shade structures and a boardwalk.
Peter Harter, the store manager of FreeRide Skate Shop, said the event was more for the city to get people out to the park to see the new features since the skate park opened last April.
City Commissioner Randy Wells said the park brought a diverse group of people out to enjoy outdoor activities.
