- Melrose residents plan to protest Wildflowers Music Park's requested temporary-use permit at Melrose Community Park on Thursday at 4 p.m.
- Wildflowers Music Park organizers purchased 270 acres in 2024 to build a music venue with $1 million backing, but locals oppose potential rural impacts.
Melrose residents plan to protest the proposed Wildflowers Music Park and its requested temporary-use permit at 4 p.m. on Thursday in Melrose Community Park (201 State Road 26).
Wildflowers Music Park is a plan started in 2024 to create a music venue near Melrose, and the organizers purchased 270 acres to start the process. The project, started by a festival organizer, Jordan Puryear, gathered steam with local backers, including $1 million from a local donor.
But Melrose residents worry about the impact of a music venue and festivals that could draw thousands to the rural area. Residents formed Connecting Melrose and started a petition opposing the project that has nearly 1,000 signatures.
“This isn’t anti-growth — it’s about protecting a rural community and keeping development consistent with zoning and the Comprehensive Plan,” Pegi Bonner, organizer with Connecting Melrose, said in a press release.
Another organizer, Sandra Gottschalk, said the group supports smart development but not “loopholes” that turn agricultural land into commercial venues through a temporary permit.
The temporary use permit is scheduled to be heard by Alachua County’s Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 10.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the Alachua County Board of County Commissioner meeting date following a postponement.
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There is another side to this story.
How many of the supposed signatures they have collected are verified Melrose residents?
Many people in Melrose support the Wildflowers Music Park. Music and the arts are at the heart of Melrose and the Wildflowers Music Park fits very well with our local culture. It is also a wonderful opportunity for our village economy to expand. The pandemic wiped out half of the businesses in the village and only a few new businesses have moved in since then.
Both of the supporters quoted in the article are large property owners near the Wildfowers Music Park so they both had knowledge of the property being placed on the market and the time to secure the funding to buy the property.
Perusing the social media sites for Melrose you will get a taste of the No Wildflowers Music Park group social attitudes towards others. Calling a local reverend a pedophile because he thinks the music park is a good idea for Melrose is just the tip of the iceberg….
Here is the link to the Wildflowers Music Park https://www.wildflowersmusicpark.org/
The focus of this 270-acre nature park is the arts, education, dance, and a deeper connection with nature.
The Festivals will occur on 4 times a year with each one spanning 3 days. Local vendors will be there selling food and local arts and crafts. Local musicians are also on the venue. If you are a local vendor or musician you can apply to be a part of the festivities on the website.
As a supporter of the small businesses of Melrose, I am looking forward to the first festival.
See you there!
David Metheny
Melrose FL
Its the town/city of Melrose not a village bruh.
Melrose is not a city or town under current Florida Statutes. It is currently an unincorporated area. It does not have any elected officials like a mayor/council or a concurrent administrative unit. It does not collect any taxes.
Melrose was breifly incorporated as a city from 1902-1917 but that incorporation was dissolved by the State of Florida around 1918.
There was some thought a while back of becoming an official town, once again, under Florida law. But that dream hit the political dunes of the Florida Ridge and quickly evaporated back into our sandy soil.
We do have a delightful ceremonial mayor who welcomes everyone to our village.
David Metheny
Melrose FL
Village. Lol. The petition actually asks where everyone lives. Melrose is in 4 counties, affecting way more than its immediate neighbors & residents. St Rd 26 is a major thoroughfare from Jacksonville to Gainesville and from St Augustine to Gainesville. Adding an additional 20,000 people, cars, food trucks, & tour buses (at least 6 times a year) will shut it down. This monstrosity/music festival will cripple our town. No one is against music. We are against its location!
The No Wildflowers group has gone around my neighborhood and taped flyers to every mailbox. Went to the Postmaster at the Melrose Post Office to let them know that this group was using USPS property in this manner. Was told that this was the second time this group had done this and that is was illegal and they needed to be reminded to knock it off. Plus, many of the flyers became litter on our street that our neighborhood helped clean up.
Which brings me to my next question: Where is the No Wildflowers group getting thier money from? They have generated enough materials to have substantial costs at this point. Flyers, yard signs, website, ads, attorney. So who is funding this?
The people of Melrose call this group The Melrose Melophobes: We don’t hate Music – Just this Music.
I am really excited about all the visitors and their dollars that these music festivals are going to bring to our village. Melrose has been welcoming visitors and vacationers since the 1870’s. Many villagers since then and especially now have realized that there is good commerce to be had with tourists.
As for the village falling apart because of some visitors: I believe that the people of Melrose are a little bit stronger than that. Even with the 20,000 food trucks!
Furthermore, you are incorrect about State Highway 26. Went and looked at the Florida Department of Transportation website for information and Google maps on Florida State Highway 26 just to triple check you.
I am pretty sure that you are not from Melrose because if you where you would be way more familiar with our road system.
Your description of Highway 26 means it runs both east-west and north-south.
According to FDOT, State Highway 26 runs east-west for a total of 63.1 miles. It is not a major thoroughfare from Jacksonville to Gainesville because it does not go to Jacksonville and it does not go to St Augustine as well. It does run through Gainesville.
It’s eastern terminus is where it runs into State Highway 100 in Putnam Hall. You know, where the biker bar is with the Circle K across the street. This eastern terminus is about 50 miles southwest of St. Augustine. The western terminus is in Fanning Springs, Levy County where it runs into US 19. Fanning Springs is about 52 mile west of Gainesville.
lol apparently you don’t live here if you don’t think 26 is a Thruway from Gainesville to Jacksonville. I literally live off of 26. SR 26 & SR 21 are our 2 main roads. That’s the only way you can get to & through Melrose.