City Hall Plaza Refresh Project

Renovation of City Hall Plaza began Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, and is not expected to impact public access to Gainesville City Hall or the Old Library Building. Part of Lot 5 will be impacted. Project updates will be posted regularly to this webpage.

The Gainesville City Commission approved the plaza reconstruction in 2023 to address maintenance issues with the ponds, built in the 1960s. The redesign removes the ponds to create more functional space to accommodate as many as 2,400 people in the plaza, and adds green space, seating, landscaping and lighting. Improvements also are planned for both the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden and the Sister Cities Monument Garden.

Plaza reconstruction will begin in the southeast corner, with the MLK Jr. Memorial Garden targeted for completion in advance of the federal holiday in January. The existing monument to Dr. King and ADA-accessible entrance will remain, with two new entrances added to the north and west. 

Project rendering - click to view enlarged, ADA-accessible image.(PDF, 19MB)

Project timeline highlights are:

  • September 2025: City Commission approves the final plan
  • Oct. 14, 2025: Construction kick-off
  • January 2026: Substantially complete or complete the King Memorial Gardens in time for MLK Day celebration
  • April 2026: Planned completion

Updates

Feb. 18, 2026 update

  • Work continues on the two circular seating areas.
  • The steps for Sister Cities Garden have been poured.
  • Work on the stadium seating in the Sister Cities Garden has started.
  • Prep work for the placement of the rainbow bricks (from the rainbow crosswalk) has started.
  • Work on the seating area around the flag pole has started.

Feb. 4, 2026 update

  • The flag pole has been moved to its new location and the flags are once again flying above the plaza.
  • Steps and sidewalk are scheduled to be poured for Sister Cities Garden. Following that, stadium seating will be added.
  • Benches are being installed in two circular seating areas along East University Avenue.
  • New sidewalks and walking paths are being formed and poured throughout the main plaza.

Jan. 28, 2026 update

  • The flag pole at City Hall will be moved today, Jan. 28. A crane will move the flag pole in the morning, and moved to its new location by the end of the day.
  • Work continues on the Sister Cities Garden. Stadium seating for the Sister Cities Garden will be installed in the coming weeks.
  • The ADA access ramp and stairwells are being formed and poured. 

Jan. 21, 2026 update

  • Demolition of the northern sunken garden (future Sister Cities Garden) will be substantially complete, completing the majority of the demolition work
  • This past Monday, Jan. 19, a ribbon-cutting in the new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden was held, led by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission of Florida.

Jan. 14, 2026 update

  • Finishing work in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden, with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting led by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission of Florida occurring Monday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m.
  • Demolition of:
    • the northern sunken garden (future Sister Cities Garden)
    • the northern half of the sidewalk that leads to the Old Library Building
    • the remaining pedestrian areas immediately adjacent to the south side of City Hall

Jan. 7, 2026 update

  • Continued focus of the work remains the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden, with substantial completion occurring this week
  • Demolition of:
    • the northern sunken garden (future Sister Cities Garden)
    • the northern half of the sidewalk that leads to the Old Library Building
    • the remaining pedestrian areas immediately adjacent to the south side of City Hall

Dec. 24 update

  • Continued focus of the work remains the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden
  • Stadium seating is complete
  • Laying brick pavers in the gardens will begin
  • Installation of signage in the gardens
  • Installation of the sidewalk near the gardens, expanding out to the rest of the plaza

Dec. 10 update

  • Continued installation of the electrical conduit for the plaza
  • Continued installation of the seat walls/stadium seating in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden
  • Laying the base for the brick pavers in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden
  • Continued installation of stormwater structures and pipes for the plaza
  • Continued grading of the main plaza

Dec. 3 update

  • Install electrical conduit and electrical rough in the plaza
  • Reline the existing stormwater management system

Nov. 26 update

  • Continue grading work in the plaza
  • Install new stormwater structures and pipe in the plaza

Nov. 19 update

  • Install stairs in the MLK Memorial Garden
  • Install seat walls (bleacher seating) in the MLK Memorial Garden
  • Install curbing around the MLK Monument

Nov. 12 update

  • Contractor continues to work on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden
  • Seat walls, stairs and stormwater management components will be installed
  • Final grading of the overall plaza will occur

Nov. 5 update

  • With the exception of the Sister Cities Garden, demolition is significantly complete.
  • Work grading the plaza will begin, as well as work on the stormwater system for drainage of the plaza.
  • The contractor will start forming the stairs and the seat walls in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden.
  • GRU will relocate four existing rental lights and installing three new rental lights along the western edge of the plaza.

Oct. 29 update

  • Demolition work continues into next week
  • Existing handrails and bike racks are scheduled to be removed

Oct. 20 update

  • Demolition work, including chert walls
  • Remove poles
  • Remove signs
  • Remove handrails
  • Remove bike racks

Oct. 10 update

  • Locate utility lines (811)
  • Phase I temporary fence location
  • Start installation of tree barricades and erosion controls
  • Start removal of existing signage
  • Temporary fence will be installed

 

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