Title
Depot Park and Cade Museum Update (B)
Explanation
The vision for Depot Park is to create a contemporary public greenspace that will serve as Gainesville's "Central Park". As the signature city park located within downtown, it will be the gateway to central Gainesville and provide a space for public outdoor enjoyment unique to the city. The park will offer community residents' opportunities to experience the renovated historic train depot, enjoy a system of walking paths, and participate in family activities at several children's areas. The stormwater facility planned for the site is also an important feature in that it will enable cost-effective and environmentally sound stormwater management for downtown's evolving development pattern.
The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention will be a cornerstone of the newly revitalized Depot Park - one of the most important environmental reclamation and urban renewal projects in the city's history. The proposed 45,000 square foot facility will include state of the art exhibit galleries, dedicated space for top traveling exhibits, science labs, workshops and studios for use by visitors, school groups and others. The building is also designed to serve as an entrance to Depot Park and as a venue for community meetings and events.
Since September 2011, CRA staff and Dorrie Hipschman, Executive Director of the Cade Museum Foundation, began focusing on a list of critical issues and timelines to facilitate the museum's anticipated groundbreaking at Depot Park in early 2015 with completion to follow in approximately 14 months. The intent is to develop a work plan with tasks to be assigned between the museum, CRA and City of Gainesville. Further discussions are planned for January to refine issues and timelines. The list of issues to be addressed consists of the following:
1. Resolution of environmental issues
2. Stormwater management capacity
3. Park construction funding and phasing
4. Park maintenan...
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