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. Municipal Swimming Pool, restrooms, lighted basketball and tennis courts, ball fields, a walking path, picnic areas, a playground, outdoor fitness stations and parking.
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.
Although the T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex includes a wide range of amenities, it is currently one of the city’s least-used parks. In response, the City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and the Wild Spaces & Public Places Departments are launching a planning effort to renovate the recreation center and develop a 10-year vision for the park.
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. Because 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.
The survey will be open through January 16, 2026.
Click below to complete the online survey.
Take the survey
Printed copies of the survey can be found in the “Infobox” located outside the T.B. McPherson center (to the right of the main entrance). Completed surveys can be left in the back of that same "Infobox" box or mailed to:
City of Gainesville
P.O. Box 490, Station 24
Gainesville, Florida 32627
You can also download a PDF version of the survey here(PDF, 1MB).
If you need assistance submitting your completed survey, please contact the project manager at 352-393-8544 or email Mandellrc@GainesvilleFL.gov
Community Workshop #1 was held on December 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.
Participants' Feedback
View workshop photos | View completed station boards(PDF, 83MB)
The primary outcome of this master planning effort is the renovation of the T.B. McPherson Center. A key goal of public engagement is to understand how the community would like to use the building in the future. The feedback received on desired programs and activities will help determine what types of renovations and facility upgrades are needed to support those uses.
Facility Condition Assessment
As part of the planning process, the City will complete a comprehensive evaluation of the existing recreation center building to understand its current condition and future potential. This assessment will:
- Review key building systems, including structure, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing and fire safety.
- Examine related site features, such as accessibility and how the building connects with surrounding areas.
- Evaluate the feasibility of desired renovations and identify constraints.
The results of this assessment will help determine the most effective approach for the building renovation.
The City is developing a Conceptual Site Master Plan to guide long-term improvements over the next 10 years at the T.B McPherson Recreation Complex. This plan 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.
City staff and the design team will review existing conditions, identify where improvements are needed and recommend future investments based on community input. This will include evaluating current amenities, accessibility (ADA compliance) and opportunities to enhance connectivity, functionality and recreational offerings throughout the park.
T.B. McPherson Recreation Complex Planning Timeline
Completed Engagement & Milestones
2025 | November–December
- Community-wide survey opened
- Community Workshop #1
The first community workshop gave community members the opportunity to share input on needs, priorities, and aspirations for the site and facility.
Upcoming Engagement & Next Steps
2026 | January–February
- Community survey closes
- Develop draft renovation plan using community input
Spring 2026
- Community Workshop #2
The second community meeting will present a draft renovation plan and proposed building program reflecting input from the community survey and first workshop. Community members will be invited to review the concepts, ask questions, and provide feedback to help refine the plan.
- Revise renovation plan
- Community Workshop #3
The third community meeting will present the refined building program and conceptual master plan and invite final community feedback and input on the proposed direction.
Summer 2026
- Review draft plan
- Present plan to the City Commission