Construction at Veterans Memorial Park will add more than 80 parking spaces and a new playground by August, and future plans look to build a splash pad and pickleball courts as well.  

The on-the-ground work started in April, but the project has been in planning for years. The county has already cleared the swath of land where the new parking lot will go with protective barriers around trees and work areas.  

An asphalt driveway will connect to the new parking lot from SW 41st Place, cutting behind the current hockey rink.    

All park amenities will be available during construction. 

Ed Williams, capital projects coordinator for the county, said the plans include new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, an inclusive playground and Gold Star Families Memorial. He said the new construction was arranged so that a future splash pad and restrooms could be added if needed.  

“As this is the fruition of years of planning and work by staff and our consultants, we are eager to see this project completed,” Williams said in an email.  

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the construction bid in February with nearly $1.5 million for the project. The funds will primarily come from the county’s Wild Spaces Public Places surtax.  

Plans for the potential splash pad, restrooms and pickleball courts would replace the existing baseball field and beach volleyball court.