In September 2025, the Gainesville City Commission directed staff to reimagine the Thelma Boltin Center site in a manner that honors Thelma Boltin’s legacy, acknowledges the site’s World War II history and reflects community identity. The redevelopment is expected to incorporate usable outdoor community space, stormwater improvements and the continuation of the community garden. A robust public engagement process is currently underway to ensure that the final vision reflects community identity and responds to local needs.
Additionally, the site will serve as a trailhead for the Sweetwater Trail Loop System. The “Sweetwater Greenway,” will connect Depot Park, the Matheson History Museum and the Sixth Street Rail-Trail, linking multiple established neighborhoods with parks, cultural amenities and nearby commercial areas.
The site plan for the park and trailhead is funded for $2M through Wild Spaces & Public Places and the use of Stormwater and Tree Mitigation Funds.
In late 2025, the Wild Spaces & Public Places Department contracted NV5, Inc. to develop conceptual designs for both the site improvements and the trail alignment, with the goal of presenting concepts for City Commission approval in spring 2027.
This project is currently in the planning phase.
The main project site encompasses approximately 2.2 acres and is composed of two parcels in downtown Gainesville. The northern parcel currently includes a community garden, a dumpster facility serving Bo Diddley Plaza, and accessory parking. The southern parcel functions primarily as surface parking. Northeast Second Avenue bisects the two parcels, creating a division in site access and circulation. The Sweetwater Branch Creek makes up the eastern boundary of both parcels, and a portion of the site is located within the FEMA 100-Year Floodplain (Zone A). Hydrologic modeling and analysis will assess upstream stormwater drainage concerns and determine the feasibility of floodplain storage and restoration onsite.
For the trail alignment portion of the project, the Sweetwater Greenway Trail will connect from University Avenue through the Duckpond neighborhood to the Sixth Street Rail-Trail.
Existing Condition Images
Please see below for images of the project site's existing conditions.
The Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP) Department believes public engagement plays a key role in successful community projects. A robust public engagement process is currently underway to ensure that the final vision reflects community identity and responds to local needs.
Community Workshop #1 - June 30, 2026
Workshop Summary
Staff hosted Community Workshop #1 on June 30, 2026 at the Thomas Center to gather feedback and input regarding future project planning, landscaping and design decisions for the Thelma Boltin Trailhead and Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.
Approximately 44 people attended the event and provided feedback throughout the evening. The format of the workshop involved a presentation, Q&A session, a digital poll and public discussion. The digital poll — with paper copies available as an alternative to the digital platform — allowed participants to provide input on what they'd like to see at the new trailhead and park.
Staff also invited attendees to provide input in the form of various interactive boards. One of the boards asked participants to choose between two "image boards" and describe what type of design approach they preferred. Another board encouraged participants to share features of parks and trailheads they've enjoyed in the past. Additionally, attendees utilized a project site map to identify potential flooding and drainage concerns. As with all Wild Spaces & Public Places workshops, staff provided index cards for any additional written comments and were available for in-person questions after the presentation concluded.
Workshop Materials and Documents
Community Workshop #2 - Sept. 29, 2026
Announcement
The City of Gainesville's Wild Spaces & Public Places Department invites you to attend the second community workshop for the Thelma Boltin Trailhead and Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.
When:
Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where:
Matheson History Museum
513 E. University Ave.
Gainesville, FL 32601
Get Directions
WSPP and project consultant NV5, Inc. will provide a brief overview of the project, summarize community input received to date, and present draft conceptual plans developed based on feedback from the first community workshop held in June 2026.
Attendees will have an opportunity to review the draft concepts, ask questions, and provide additional feedback to help inform the next phase of the project.
Following the workshop, the workshop materials and a summary of the feedback received will be posted on this project webpage.
Meeting Advertisement Efforts
To announce and advertise the second community workshop, WSPP engaged the public in a variety of ways:
Meeting Materials
Please see below for copies of the workshop presentation, preference worksheet and posterboards.
Community Workshop #3 - To Be Scheduled
Pending feedback of the second community workshop, a third community workshop will be scheduled for the public to review draft conceptual plans.
Focus Group Meetings
As part of the project's community engagement efforts, the WSPP team meets with city advisory boards and committees, community groups, associations and businesses to keep them informed about project details at different phases. Please see the drop-down list below for more information about past and upcoming focus group meetings.
Focus Group Meetings - May 2026
In May 2026, WSPP staff met with various advisory boards and groups:
- Gainesville Art in Public Places Trust (APPT) - May 5, 2026
- Duckpond Neighborhood Association (DNA) - May 12, 2026
- Public Recreation and Parks Board - May 13, 2026
- Cultural Affairs Board - May 27, 2026
Please see the link below for a summary of meeting notes and feedback from each focus group meeting.
View Meeting Summaries(PDF, 4MB)
Focus Group Meeting - Tree Advisory Board - Sept. 9, 2026
Please see the link below for a copy of the presentation given to the City of Gainesville Tree Advisory Board about the Thelma Boltin Trailhead & Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.
View Presentation(PDF, 16MB)
Correction: On Slide 9, the date should read "May 2026" instead of "May 2024."
Focus Group Meeting - Duckpond Neighborhood Association - Sept. 14, 2026
Please see the link below for a copy of the presentation given to the Duckpond Neighborhood Association (DNA) about the Thelma Boltin Trailhead & Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.
View Presentation(PDF, 16MB)
Correction: On Slide 9, the date should read "May 2026" instead of "May 2024."
Focus Group Meeting - Public Recreation and Parks Board - Sept. 16, 2026
Please see the link below for a copy of the presentation given to the City of Gainesville's Public Recreation and Parks Board about the Thelma Boltin Trailhead & Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.
View Presentation(PDF, 15MB)
Correction: On Slide 9, the date should read "May 2026" instead of "May 2024."
Focus Group Meeting - Friends of the Thelma Boltin Center - Sept. 23, 2026
Please see the link below for a copy of the presentation given to the Friends of the Thelma Boltin Center about the Thelma Boltin Trailhead & Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project.
View Presentation(PDF, 15MB)
Correction: On Slide 9, the date should read "May 2026" instead of "May 2024."
Focus Group Meeting - Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board - Oct. 20, 2026
WSPP will be presenting the Thelma Boltin Trailhead & Sweetwater Greenway Loop Trail Alignment project to the City of Gainesville's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The project site is the former location of the Thelma A. Boltin Center, originally known as the Gainesville Servicemen's Center. Built in 1942, the center served as an entertainment venue for U.S. service members stationed at nearby military bases. The City of Gainesville purchased the facility in 1946 and later converted the building into a multipurpose facility managed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. It was renamed in honor of the center's first director, Thelma A. Boltin.
Scanned postcard of the Thelma Boltin Center.
Servicemen playing piano, reading and conversing at the Thelma Boltin Center.