Nature Centers Commission
City of Gainesville
Latest meetings
Agenda (PDF)
[Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601] Nature Centers Commission Meeting Agenda for July 9, 2026. Key items include a financial report, WSPP project updates, old business items like timber plan and bylaws update, and new business items including an environmental education funding request and a new NCC applicant. The meeting will also include public and member comment, and adjournment. The previous meeting on June 11, 2026, approved the agenda and minutes from May 14, 2026. Updates included staff and FoNP reports, and reports on the timber plan and curriculum map. Old business included an annual presentation and memorial sign. New business included signage and brochure holders in parks and a trailhead presentation. Public comment was not made. Member comment included old business items. The next meeting is scheduled for August 13, 2026. [case 2025-986] Agenda Item Report for 2025-986 NCC July 26 Financial Report (B). The recommendation is to review the current NCC budget. The report details budget vs actuals for the Nature Centers Commission for FY2026 - Jul in the 1001 General Fund. Total expenditures were $2,420 out of a $5,573 budget, with 43.42% budget used. [case 2025-985A] Agenda Item Report for 2025-985A WSPP Project Update (B). The recommendation is to review current WSPP projects. The document lists several WSPP projects with task details, start/end dates for design and construction, percentage completion, and comments. Projects include NE 31st Avenue Trail, Bivens Arm Nature Park Boardwalk Replacement & Parking Lot Improvements, Alfred A. Ring Park Wildflower Garden, Trail from SE Williston Road to Depot Park, Trail from Sweetwater Wetlands Park to Sweetwater Preserve, SW 47th Ave. Trail, SE 8th Avenue Trail, Boulware Springs Revitalization, Morningside Nature Center - Master Planning / New Nature Center, District 3 Park (Regional/Community Scale), and Thelma A. Boltin Trailhead/ Sweetwater Loop Trail. Some projects are substantially complete, others are in design or construction phases, and some have upcoming community engagement or design work. [case 2026-480] Agenda Item Report for 2026-480 Environmental Education Funding Request (B). The recommendation is to approve the funding request for NCC specific interests. The Environmental Education team is requesting $1,000 to restore existing curriculum crates and develop two new crates: Florida Black Bears and Water & Watersheds. The request includes a detailed list of requested materials from Acorn Naturalists with quantities, SKUs, educational use, unit cost, and extended cost, totaling an estimated $954.45. [2424 SE 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32641; case 2026-481] Agenda Item Report for 2026-481 NCC New Applicant (B). The recommendation is to approve a new NCC applicant. The applicant is Faye Ricker, with a term from November 3, 2025, to November 2, 2028. Faye Ricker is an Environmental and Sustainability Scientist with experience in environmental policy, conservation, and community engagement. She lives in District 1 and is employed by Intertek. She has not served on this board previously and claims no exemption to public record disclosure. She is willing to file a financial statement and affirms compliance with city and county regulations. She agrees to attend scheduled meetings and understands the application is subject to public record requests.
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-07-09
- Type:
- Agenda
- Decision:
- Review current NCC budget
- Address:
- Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
- Applicant:
- Nature Centers Commission
Agenda Cover Page (PDF)
This document is an agenda for the Nature Centers Commission Meeting on July 9, 2026. It lists several items for discussion and decision, including financial reports, project updates, old business items like a timber plan and boardwalk update, and new business items such as an environmental education funding request and a new applicant. Public comment is also scheduled. No specific construction projects with addresses or sizes are detailed, but potential work could arise from the listed business items.
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-07-09
- Type:
- Agenda
- Address:
- 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Agenda (PDF)
[Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601] Nature Centers Commission Meeting Agenda for June 11, 2026. The meeting includes updates on staff and Friends of Nature Parks (FoNP), financial reports, and new business items. New business includes a presentation on the Thelma Boltin Stakeholder Presentation and a WSPP Nature Park Workplan Update. The meeting also covers public and member comments, and sets the next meeting date for July 9, 2026. [Thelma Boltin Site, NE Boulevard from University Ave to 6th Street Rail Trail; case 2026-396] Thelma Boltin Site Trailhead & Sweetwater Loop Trail Alignment Development. The project aims to reimagine the site as a trailhead along the Sweetwater Trail Loop system. The reimagined site should honor the historic and cultural legacy of the location and Thelma Boltin's contributions, incorporating folk art tradition, World War II history, usable outdoor community space, stormwater improvements, and a community garden. The project will include conceptual design for two main components: Thelma Boltin Site and Sweetwater Greenway Trail Alignment. The project scope for the Thelma Boltin Site includes approximately 2.2 acres, two parcels bisected by NE 2nd Ave, option to incorporate NE 2nd Ave, Sweetwater Branch Creek ecological considerations, partially in Floodplain Zone A, maintaining community gardens, and a site survey + ecological analysis. The project scope for the Sweetwater Greenway Trail includes incorporation of a multi-use trail that follows NE Boulevard from University Ave to 6th Street Rail Trail, studying potential trail corridors, and considering creek, stormwater, parking, and accessibility. Trail construction is currently not funded. The project has an approximate $2M budget for the project site. The process involves three phases of public engagement: Initial Discovery Phase, Initial Plans + Trail Alignment Phase, and Refined Plans + Trail Alignment Phase. The Initial Discovery Phase includes site survey and ecological review. The project is currently in the Initial Discovery Phase (Spring/Summer 2026). [Various nature park locations within Gainesville, FL.; case 2026-435] Wild Spaces & Public Places Nature Park Workplan Update. The presentation outlines the WSPP Workplan, including the status of active nature park projects and trails. Active construction projects include Morningside Nature Center Farm Area Upgrades (in construction, completion Summer 2026, cost $142,000) and NE 31st Avenue Multi-use Trail (in construction, completion May 2026, cost $1,755,855.00). Projects in procurement include Alfred A. Ring Park Wildflower Garden (design completion Winter 2025, procurement Summer 2026, construction start Fall 2026, completion Spring 2027, estimated cost $95,000). Projects in planning include Sweetwater Recreational Trail (Depot Park to Sweetwater Wetlands Park) (in procurement, construction start late 2026, completion in FY28, estimated cost $4M), Bivens Arm Nature Park Boardwalk Replacement (in planning, design/permitting/procurement Summer 2026, construction start Fall 2026, completion Summer 2027, estimated cost $2.2M), Boulware Springs Revitalization (in planning, construction start TBD, duration 13 months, estimated cost $4.5M), and Morningside Nature Center Master Plan (in planning, TBD for construction start and cost).
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-06-11
- Type:
- Agenda
- Decision:
- Project Introduction and conceptual design phase.
- Address:
- Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
- Applicant:
- City of Gainesville
Agenda Cover Page (PDF)
This document is an agenda for the Nature Centers Commission Meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2026. It lists several items for discussion and decision, including approval of minutes from a previous meeting, updates on staff and Friends of Nature Parks (FoNP) initiatives like the Cypress Dome Boardwalk, review of June financials, a stakeholder presentation on the Thelma Boltin Trailhead, and an update on the WSPP Nature Park Workplan. The meeting will also include public comment and member comment periods, followed by adjournment. The next meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2026.
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-06-11
- Type:
- Agenda
- Address:
- Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Minutes (PDF)
This document is the minutes of the City of Gainesville Nature Centers Commission Meeting held on June 11, 2026. It details various agenda items including the adoption of the agenda, approval of previous minutes, updates on staff and Friends of Nature Parks (FoNP), reports on timber plans and curriculum maps, financial reviews, old and new business items, public comment, member comments, and the next meeting date. Specific workplan presentations and updates from WSPP are noted. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 pm.
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-06-11
- Type:
- Minutes
- Address:
- Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Agenda (PDF)
[302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601] The Nature Centers Commission will hold a meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. The agenda includes updates on staff and Friends of Nature Parks (FoNP), review of current NCC budget and WSPP projects, and a review of NCC Bylaws. The meeting will also include a call to order, roll call, adoption of the agenda, approval of minutes, public comment, member comment, and adjournment. The next meeting is scheduled for June 11, 2026. The document also includes minutes from a previous meeting on April 9, 2026, which included approval of the agenda and minutes from March 12, 2026, updates on staff and FoNP, reports on financials and WSPP projects, and a discussion item regarding bylaws. The previous meeting's bylaws discussion was interrupted due to loss of quorum. The document also contains detailed information on WSPP active projects, including tasks, timelines, and comments, and the Nature Centers Commission By-Laws.
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-05-14
- Type:
- Agenda
- Address:
- 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Agenda Cover Page (PDF)
This document is an agenda for the Nature Centers Commission Meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2026. It lists several items for discussion and reports, including financial updates, project updates, and bylaws review. There are no specific projects listed with addresses or details about work to be pursued by contractors. The agenda includes items such as Call to Order, Roll Call, Adoption of the Agenda, Approval of Minutes, Updates on Staff and FoNP, Reports on Financials and WSPP Project, Business Discussion Items on Bylaws Review, Public Comment, Member Comment, Next Meeting Date, and Adjournment. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Thomas Center, Building A, Room 105, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601.
- Board:
- Nature Centers Commission
- Date:
- 2026-05-14
- Type:
- Agenda
- Address:
- 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
See the actual businesses behind these numbers
Get the real filings, with addresses and officers, free for 7 days. No credit card required.
Start your free trial