The City of Gainesville held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Clarence R. Kelly Community Center and Park in April to begin construction on the Community Center and Park after three years of planning, outreach and focus group meetings. Work on the new community center will consist of demolition of the existing building and construction of a new 3,800 square foot space. The new center will have two large multipurpose event rooms, a catering kitchen, offices, a game room, activity rooms, computer lab, reception area, lobby and storage.
Improvements to the outdoor space include a new playground, adult fitness equipment, an event lawn, walking trail, community garden, full-sized, lighted basketball court and landscaping.
Blackwater Construction Services, LLC, a small, local business, is the general contractor for the project. The approximate construction cost of the project is $2,292,276.00 and work is anticipated to complete in the spring of 2022.