Below are recommendations for the Guiding Gainesville Parks & Trails Master Plan as presented during the Public Workshop held on Monday, September 8th. Each group of recommendations is organized by aspiration level: critical, sustainable, and visionary. Use the green buttons to switch between objectives.
Please review each group of recommendations and use the contact form at the bottom of the page to submit any feedback you may have no later than September 30th. Your feedback will help us determine the final recommendations that will be included in the Guiding Gainesville Parks & Trails Master Plan.
Maintain What We Have
Objective: Provide continuous maintenance and replace aging equipment for all existing parks and recreation facilities.
1.1.1 Outdated/unsafe playground equipment. Replace playground equipment at Pecan Creek Park.
1.1.2 Cemetery Paving. Develop a comprehensive paving replacement plan for Fairview Cemetery, considering the use of permeable pavers.
1.1.3 M-K-T Railway Open Space. Maintain the City-owned former M-K-T Railway property south of QuikTrip and Gunter St. as an open space with tree-trimming and regular mowing.
Pursue Properties in Underserved Areas
Objective: Identify underserved residential neighborhoods in order to target and acquire priority properties for trail and park development.
1.2.1 Underserved Neighborhood #1. A pocket park or plaza for the Lynch Ave. / Berend St. neighborhood.
1.2.2 Underserved Neighborhood #2. A pocket park or plaza for the Summa St. / Beecher St. neighborhood.
Increase Outdoor Comfort Levels
Objective: Increase outdoor comfort levels city-wide using shade by strategically capitalizing on existing shade trees; relocate and reconfigure movable amenities to maximize the benefit provided by existing shaded areas.
1.3.1 Move Amenities to Shaded Areas. Rearrange tables, benches, grills, and playground equipment at Edison Park.
1.3.2 Dead Trees. Replace dead shade trees in city parks.
1.3.3 Tree Maintenance Best Practices. Incorporate all tree maintenance best practices into a comprehensive tree maintenance plan, tracking all trees on city properties.
Expanded Shade Strategy
Objective: Increase outdoor comfort levels City-wide using shade with a planned multi-year tree planting program, and by strategically constructing new shade structures at existing and new facilities; bring ample shade to users and amenities.
2.1.1 Community Parks. Include at least one pavilion at all new Community Parks.
2.1.2 Software Tools. Use tree-mapping software to prioritize the multi-year tree-planting plan.
2.1.3 Street Trees. Implement an ongoing Street Tree Rebate Program, and a Schedule of Fines for negligent damage and destruction of downtown street trees.
2.1.4 Texas Arbor Day. Host Texas Arbor Day tree-planting events.
Improve what we have
Objective: Apply targeted improvement projects to existing underdeveloped facilities.
2.2.1 ADA Accessibility. Retrofit all existing park facilities to be fully ADA-accessible.
2.2.2 Edison Park. Develop a Comprehensive Plan for Edison Park and Fairview Cemetery.
2.2.3 Downtown Pocket Park. Explore pocket park potential at the NE corner of 200 S Rusk St.
Active Transportation
Objective: Unify the trail user experience across the active transportation network by identifying and instituting City trail design standards.
2.3.1 Trail Facilities Design Standards. Adopt Trail Facilities Design Standards conforming to AASHTO’s Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. Include flexible standards and specifications for distribution and design of branding, amenities (such as park benches, drinking fountains, bicycle repair stands, wayfinding signage, and lighting) and trailhead facilities.
2.3.2 eBike/eScooter Ordinance. Adopt a City ordinance for use of eBikes and eScooters in public spaces that supports users of active transportation.
2.3.3 Active Transportation Plan. Provide safer routes City-wide for citizens on foot or on bike with the creation of a City Active Transportation Plan, emphasizing improvements to commercial corridors and major thoroughfares; a trail wayfinding signage and lighting plan should be integral to the active transportation plan.
2.3.4 Connectivity. Connect existing surface street trails and fill in sidewalk gaps throughout the City, while meeting accessibility standards.
2.3.5 Trail & Sidewalk Enhancements. Enhance existing trails and sidewalks to meet adopted design standards.
Linking Parks to Enhance Downtown
Objective: Identify strategies to enhance and unify Parks and Open Space across downtown corridors.
3.1.1 Downtown Pedestrian Promenade. Create a downtown pedestrian spine along the south side of Main St. by eliminating on-street parking, widening the sidewalk from Chestnut St. to Schopmeyer St., and using enhanced paving methods and raised crosswalks. Fill in streetlighting gaps. Reduce the speed limit to 20mph. Provide clearly marked bicycle lanes and ample bicycle parking. Street trees, landscaping planters, and green stormwater infrastructure should be included to the fullest extent.
3.1.2 Downtown Pedestrian Promenade Westward Extension. Extend the Promenade with full amenities from Chestnut St. westward to Medal of Honor Host City Park.
3.1.3 Downtown Pedestrian Promenade Lighting Extension. Extend pedestrian-scale streetlights eastward from Rusk St. to Lindsay St., and, in a later phase, to Schopmeyer St.
3.1.4 Chestnut Street Pedestrian Facilities Enhancements. Enhance pedestrian facilities between Main St. and the Farmers Market, including widened sidewalks and adding raised crosswalks at intersections.
3.1.5 Red River Street Conversion. Convert Red River St. into a Woonerf (“Living Street” or “Festival Street”), reducing speed limits, eliminating curbs, while adding raised crosswalks at intersections.
3.1.6 Gnarly Tree Pocket Park. Convert some of the parking lot at the SE corner of Rusk and Broadway into a pocket park showcasing the “The Gnarly Tree” Bois D’Arc for photo opportunities.
New Park Development
Objective: Develop new City parks aligned with underserved areas, expansion of residential development, and unmet demand for facilities and services.
3.2.1 To be Determined.
