Depot Park is celebrating 10 years of walkers, runners, frisbee throwers, kids climbing all over its playground and all-around park goers at the city of Gainesville Decade at Depot event on Saturday night.
Envisioned as a Central Park for Gainesville, city leaders earned a grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection in 2000 and cleaned the contaminated “brownfield.” The land had been used for decades as a rail yard and commercial hub, with a manufactured gas plant producing the main coal tar residual contamination.
Officials removed the top 50 feet of earth to remediate the environmental impacts. The “Big Dig” included over 147,000 tons of contaminated soil and over 40 million gallons of contaminated water.
Now, except for information placards, no evidence of the brownfield remains as gators slide and turtles sun in the central pond. Depot Park is also Gainesville’s only park with a dedicated website to learn more about its history and current events.
Saturday’s birthday celebration will run from 7 to 11 p.m. and include a kids’ dance party with DJ MellowBlendz, face painting, bubbles and crafts for the first two hours.
Starting at 9 p.m., a slate of local artists will perform live along with a glow party. The concert will include Pet Detective and mamish along with guest Gainesville musicians from Trustfall, Savants, Wax Wings, Sooza, Blacksnake, NOMORE, The Mermers, Uncle Mosie and The Ones To Blame.
Right after Depot Park opened, the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention followed suit on the property. The park has temporarily hosted the annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, with plans for a new home in 2027, and nearby property has been eyed for renovation to fit more activities.