This project consists of the redevelopment of the NE Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road area which houses the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (MLK Center), the Dwight H. Hunter Pool Complex and Citizens Field. This project has been previously known as the Citizens Field Revitalization project.
Following community workshops held in November 2024, February 2025 and May 2025, city staff worked with project consultant NV5, Inc. to develop a project scope informed by feedback from the community, stakeholder groups and the city commission. The developed project scope included but was not limited to the renovation and expansion of the MLK Center, environmental remediation, multipurpose fields, a master stormwater facility, utility improvements, parking improvements, a competition pool, an aquatic center, a community aquatic feature and planning for a future senior center.
With the completion of the planning phase, the City of Gainesville advertised two separate request for proposals for the project, one for architectural and engineering services and another for construction manager services. From the submitted proposals, the city selected NV5, Inc. as the professional services consultant and D.E. Scorpio Corporation as the construction manager at risk. Currently, the project team is working to evaluate and refine the existing site plan and scope for project phasing opportunities, potential site plan reconfigurations and maximization of the available budget. Once this process is completed, an additional public engagement workshop will be scheduled to verify that the revised site plan and scope remains reflective of community desires and programming needs.
On Oct. 6, 2026, the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) approved a plan to purchase Citizens Field from the City of Gainesville and renovate it. While the city will remain responsible for the site improvements, SBAC will be responsible for the demolition and reconstruction costs of a new stadium at Citizens Field.
A total of up to $36.1 million has been identified as potential funding sources for the project. These funding sources are estimates and are subject to change:
- Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area: $10.9 million
- Wild Spaces Public Places: $5.0 million
- Alachua County Wild Spaces Public Places grant: $2.5 million
- Excess fund balance: $5.0 million
- Sale proceeds from Citizens Field: $5.5 million
- HUD Section 108 loan: $7.2 million
This project is currently in the design phase.
The project site spans approximately 36 acres and is home to the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. Skate Park, Dwight H. Hunter Pool Complex and Citizens Field. The site includes about 16 acres of fields and greenspace, 20 acres of impervious surface and 200 paved parking spaces. The southwestern portion of the site is currently under construction for a new Fire Station #3.
Please see the image below to view the site's existing features and facilities.
Currently, the project team is working to evaluate and refine the existing site plan and scope for project phasing opportunities, potential site plan reconfigurations and maximization of the available budget. Once this process is completed, an additional public engagement workshop will be scheduled to verify that the revised site plan and scope remains reflective of community desires and programming needs.
For summaries of the previous workshops held for this project, please see the drop-down list below.
Community Workshop #1 - Nov. 18, 2024
Workshop Summary
The first community workshop for the NE Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road project was held on Nov. 18, 2024, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center on the project site. The workshop included multiple stations where participants interacted with response boards about current park barriers and visions for the future. At one station, participants posted sticky notes directly on an aerial site map to give location-specific ideas for the project.
Community Workshop #2 - Feb. 18, 2025
Workshop Summary
The second community workshop for the NE Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road project was held on Feb. 18, 2025, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (MLK Center) on the project site. The workshop featured five interactive stations where attendees could learn about the draft conceptual site plan and share feedback on the proposed features and amenities. The workshop overall covered six focus areas: the multipurpose/green space, outdoor sports facilities, plaza area, MLK Center, Dwight H. Hunter Northeast Pool and Citizens Field.
Community Workshop #3 - May 29, 2025
Workshop Summary
The third community workshop for the NE Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road project was held on May 29, 2025, at the Santa Fe College Charles L. Blount Center. The meeting focused primarily on transportation, streetscape, pedestrian, bicycle and connectivity improvements associated with the Citizens Field and NE Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road corridors. The community expressed their interest in pedestrian safety and crossings, traffic calming measures on Waldo Road, general multimodal corridor improvements and bicycle facilities.