The T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex is a 15-acre community park located in southeast Gainesville. As outlined in the City of Gainesville's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PCRA) 2023 Needs Assessment Update, the recreation complex is in need of renovation.
In response, the City of Gainesville’s PRCA Department and the Wild Spaces & Public Places Department have launched a planning effort to renovate the recreation center and develop a 10-year vision for the park. This 10-year vision will consider the entire site, including playgrounds, fields, courts, open spaces and supporting features, to understand how the park can best serve the community and work cohesively with the renovated building.
The primary focus of this effort is the renovation of the T.B. McPherson Center building, for which the city has currently budgeted $3,000,000, with the intent that design and construction will begin shortly after the master planning process is complete. Since changes to the building’s use and function may affect how the surrounding site looks and operates, it is important to consider that relationship as part of the planning work. At this time, the broader park is being evaluated at a planning level only and is considered a secondary, longer-term component to help guide future investment.
The city has entered into a professional services agreement with NV5, Inc. for $207,565 to plan for the renovation and site master plan.
This project is in the planning phase.
General
The T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex is a 15-acre community park located in southeast Gainesville. The site includes a recreation center, the Andrew R. Mickle, Sr. Pool, restrooms, lighted basketball and tennis courts, ball fields, a walking path, picnic areas, a playground, outdoor fitness stations and parking. In the City of Gainesville's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 2023 Needs Assessment Update, the T.B. McPherson Center building was identified as a candidate for significant improvements.
The 5,688-square-foot recreation center is available for reservation and is frequently rented for community gatherings and celebrations. In addition to private use, the center hosts a range of programs provided by the city — such as the Teen Summer Camp — as well as activities led by local partners like 1,000 Voices, a nonprofit offering cultural arts classes such as arts and crafts, chorus and musical theatre. The facility also supports community health initiatives like the UF College of Dentistry’s Saving Smiles program, which supplies free on-site preventive and limited dental care.
Below you can see a map of the project's current limits and features.
Facility Assessment & Existing Conditions
As part of the planning process, the city completed a comprehensive evaluation of the existing recreation center building to understand its current condition and future potential. This assessment:
- Reviewed key building systems, including structure, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing and fire safety.
- Examined related site features, such as accessibility and how the building connects with surrounding areas.
- Evaluated the feasibility of desired renovations and identify constraints.
The results of this assessment will help determine the most effective approach for the building renovation. Please see the link below for the Facility Assessment & Existing Conditions Report.
View Report(PDF, 4MB)
The City of Gainesville and the Wild Spaces & Public Places Department believes public engagement plays a key role in successful community projects.
Please see below to learn more about the community engagement efforts related to the T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex Building Renovation and Master Plan project. Each drop-down box contains links to workshop and engagement materials for each session.
Community Workshop #3 - April 9, 2026
Staff hosted Community Workshop #3 on June 9, 2026, at the T.B. McPherson Center to gather public input on the revised conceptual plans for the building renovation, building façade and park improvements. With input from the first and second workshops, the team presented updated draft concepts to attendees.
Twenty-two people attended the event and provided feedback through worksheets, comments, and conversations with staff. Outreach efforts mirrored those used for the previous workshops and included additional direct outreach with attendees who provided contact information during the first two meetings.
Workshop Format
The format for Community Workshop #3 involved a presentation of revised conceptual plans followed by a Q&A session. Additionally, city staff provided participants with a preference worksheet to select elements they would like to see in façade improvements. After the Q&A session ended, participants gave further input through the written comment cards and direct conversations with staff.
Feedback and Workshop Materials
Community Workshop #2 - June 9, 2026
Community Workshop #2 was held on April 9, 2026, at the T.B. McPherson Center to gather feedback on the proposed building renovation and site master plan. The draft concepts presented at the workshop were developed based on input received during the first community workshop.
The event was well attended, with approximately 60 participants throughout the evening. Outreach efforts mirrored those used for the first workshop and included additional direct communication with attendees who provided contact information during the initial meeting.
Workshop Format
The workshop followed a town hall-style format. Attendees received a presentation outlining the proposed building renovations and site improvements. While some questions were asked during the presentation, the majority were addressed during a dedicated Q&A session that followed. Participants also had the opportunity to speak directly with staff after the Q&A ended.
Feedback and Workshop Materials
Community Workshop #1 - Dec. 11, 2025
Community Workshop #1 was held on Dec. 11, 2025, at the T.B. McPherson Center to gather input on existing conditions and future indoor programming. The event was well attended, with an estimated 90 participants. Outreach for the workshop included, but was not limited to:
- 580+ mailed postcards to surrounding residents and property owners
- Approximately 5,900 emails
- Flyers and handouts(PDF, 10MB) at locations throughout the city
- Direct invitations to neighborhood groups, current and past program organizers, and other stakeholders
- Social media posts
Workshop Format
The workshop had 13 interactive stations where participants shared feedback to help inform long-term planning for the center and park. Staff from the Wild Spaces & Public Places Department and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, as well as members from the consulting teams, were available at each station to engage with participants and assist with documenting feedback through dot-voting and written comments.
The interactive stations were intentionally divided into two sections: the "building" stations, and the "recreation complex" stations. This was to help participants understand the two components of the project: identifying how the community wants to use the building and evaluating the park at a planning level to guide future investment.
Feedback and Workshop Materials
Community Survey - Nov. 13, 2025 - Jan. 16, 2026
The primary purpose of the T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex: Building Renovation and Master Plan Community Survey was to supplement feedback received during public meetings and gather broader community input on programming and park use.
The survey was available for nine weeks, from Nov. 13, 2025, through Jan. 16, 2026 and included multiple-choice questions with an open-ended response option, as well as scaled and ranked questions to measure preferences.
Click on the link below for a summary of the survey results:
T.B. McPherson Community Survey Summary(PDF, 5MB)
Next Steps
- Review draft plan
- Present plan to the City Commission