The Alachua County Parks and Open Spaces will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park on Monday to unveil a new inclusive playground and other improvements.
The event will start at 9 a.m. at 7400 SW 41st Place in Gainesville and will coincide with Alachua County’s Veterans Day Celebration which will also take place at the park.
The park’s renovations included the removal of outdated park structures and landscaping that helped make way for an inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities. The park’s other new features include ADA-accessible sidewalks, upgraded stormwater and utility systems, the Gold Star Families Memorial, new lighting and temporary irrigation using reclaimed water.
The new enhancements were designed with expansion in mind, including potential additions such as more restrooms and a splash pad with infrastructure capacity already in place.
“We’re thrilled to see years of planning and hard work come to life,” said Capital Projects Coordinator Ed Williams in a press release. “This new space honors families and enhances access for all, making Veterans Memorial Park more inclusive than ever.”
The total cost for the projects was around $2.3 million. The funds came from the voter-approved Wild Spaces Public Places surtax, impact fees and a $25,000 contribution from Duke Energy.