New multi-use trail completed in East Gainesville

Published on June 02, 2026

A new multi-use trail along the north side of NE 31st Avenue between NE 15th Street and NE Waldo Road is open to the public - promoting walking, jogging, cycling and all forms of wheeling. 

The NE 31st Avenue Trail, a 10-foot-wide asphalt path nearly one mile long, connects residential areas and schools, commercial areas and an existing trail along Waldo Road. The trail also provides safe access to Unity Park and Flatwoods Conservation Area, two municipal greenspaces along the corridor. 

“The new trail is an investment in connectivity and safety for our community,” said Gainesville City Commissioner James Ingle, At-large Seat A. “I expect it will get widely used by neighbors and cyclists alike.”

Construction began in October 2025. The $1.5 million project is fully funded through the Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP) surtax, including a $333,333 allocation from Alachua County designated specifically for this project.

The trail is part of a larger interconnected network, including the proposed Eastside Loop Trail which would extend south to University Avenue near Fred Cone Park and to Hawthorne Road at SE Eighth Avenue, near the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative at Cornerstone.

“We are excited to complete construction on this project,” said WSPP Project Manager Betsy Waite. “Neighbors and passersby were supportive during construction.”

A connected system of trails expands transportation options for residents, supports local businesses and can attract visitors from outside the region. The city’s commitment to building great places to live and experience is a keystone of its strategic plan.