Lights have been added to Possum Creek Park’s skate park, parking lot and path to the restroom. The skating area is now open until 11:30 p.m. due to the new lighting additions.  

“The lights have been a great thing in Gainesville, especially for our skating community,” said Peter Kovacs, a rollerblader who uses the park often, in a press release. “I mean a lot of skaters are coming out now because of the lights. So, it’s good to see new faces.”  

Possum Creek’s skate area features a multi-level bowl, obstacles, modern plaza elements and integrated landscaping. The addition of lighting cost $156,663.88. 

“They [the community] let the city commissioners know that they wanted to utilize this park later into the evening, especially with the summer heat, and during the winter with the very limited daylight,” said Betsy Waite, Director of Wild Spaces and Public Spaces, in a press release. 

Possum Creek Park also features a playground, picnic pavilion, jogging path and scenic nature trail that winds through the forest and floodplain. In addition, the park boasts recreation fields suitable for ballgames, frisbee, kite flying and more. These features are available from dawn until dusk.