An Area Analysis Report of Gainesville Parks with a Focus on Springtree Park
Danielle Behr
December 15, 2014

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Part I: Existing Condition at Springtree Park
Management Area: With at least 2,000 acres nestled between residential and commercial
areas, Gainesville City Parks feature an array of ecosystems, ranging from upland mixed forest
and live oak hammock to bottomland forest and seepage wetlands. The department of Parks,
Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) manages these parks, as well as their facilities,
resources, and recreational opportunities. Visitors to Gainesville’s parks can participate in a
variety of activities, including hiking, skateboarding, bike riding, geocaching, and fishing,
without paying any user fees, thanks to taxpayer dollars. As a result, visitors are usually diverse,
ranging from families to college students, and residents to tourists. The parks serve the public
and offer the perfect blend of “natural, recreational, and cultural facilities and programs that
make Gainesville a great place to live, work and visit (City of Gainesville website).”
Study Site: Springtree is among one of Gainesville’s smallest city parks. At just 12 acres,
it is located on the northwest side of town, on NW 39th
Avenue, in between private church and
resident property. Within the park boundaries, there are several natural communities, including
upland mixed forest, slope forest, and upland pine. The main facilities include a small
playground and picnic area, as well as a few trails that go through the upland pine forest and
perpendicular to a small creek, known as Three Lakes Creek, which is part of the nearby Possum
Creek. This habitat is known as a seepage stream, and within the park, the stream gets to be
about 2-4 feet wide. Currently, the park primarily serves the churchgoers and nearby residents, as
the park’s location is hidden and not well known. The unofficial parking area is shared with the
church’s parking lot, so most users are pedestrians. There isn’t any visitor or use fees, however,
which means everyone in the community can enjoy the park. These users can find four distinct
zones within the park, which offer varying recreation opportunities.

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Near the main entrance to the park, off of the church’s parking lot, there is a small metal
playground for children to play on and a small sitting or picnic area underneath a large oak tree.
This zone, ‘Zone 1: High Development,’ is very accessible to all visitors of the park, as the trail
is wide and flat, and the understory is clear, with the exception of leaf litter. In fact, this area’s
design would meet the American Disabilities Act requirements, thus creating an area for disabled
visitors to enjoy the park. Other visitors to this area are usually families and the elderly, as it is a
perfect area for social gatherings. As a result, this area is usually the busiest and may be densely
populated. The users may note that the area is busy, but shouldn’t feel crowded. They should,
however, gain great experiences with others, including meeting new people and family bonding.
With the amount of people that this area could accommodate, it is missing a lot of key facilities,
including a bathroom and multiple trash bins. In addition, there is little to no management
presence. The park lacks any clear signage, including trail designations or a map. Furthermore,
there isn’t a gate that closes once it gets dark, so visitors can enter at any time.
The second major recreational area of the park can be found on either side of Zone 1.
This area, ‘Zone 2: Moderate Development’ is perfect for hikers and dog owners who are
looking to get stress relief and enjoy nature, and who want to avoid seeing more than two or
three people during their visit. This area is not very accessible, however, as the trails are
narrower, so they are less accommodating for a variety of users. Besides the trail, there aren’t
any other facilities, so Zone 2 certainly has a more natural feel without feeling isolated or alone
in the wilderness, as traffic and noise from other visitors can still be heard. Again, there is little
to no management here, with very few to no signs demarcating the trail’s path.
For those users who want to experience escape from the busyness of life or get a sense of
achievement from going off into the unknown, ‘Zone 3: Low Development,’ located on the

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western side of the park offers just that. There is no management presence to be found, indicated
by a lack of trail demarcation, and only a small, foot trail that seems relatively untouched. As it
is on the boundary of the park, this area is very inaccessible, but offers users a sense of seclusion,
as they are likely to only see one other person out on the trail. This area is allows users to
experience nature as it should be, and enjoy the naturalness of the park’s ecosystem.
The final zone, ‘Zone 4: No Access,’ has a high management presence as this is an area
that is blocked off from users by fences. The outcomes for these areas are focused on
management, restoration and conservation, but occasionally this zone could be used for an area
that does not have an assigned use. There would be little to no people in this area, unless staff
was actively working on a project, and there are no facilities, including a trail. In fact, visitors to
the park may not even know that this zone exists, if the existing park facilities hide it well
enough. This zone is actually adjacent to privately owned property which managers have been
trying to gain access to, and as a result, this zone does not have an assigned use at this time.
It is important to note that there have been illegal Off Road Vehicle (ORV) trails created
at the northeastern corner of the park, caused by local residents who choose to enter the park on
the motorized vehicles. Although they have disturbed the management of this zone, the overall
development of the area meets most of the criteria of Zone 2. In addition, there are unwanted
bicycle users that cause increased erosion near the creek and increased impaction on the defined
trails.
Part II: Future Condition of Springtree Park
Springtree Park’s location offers a great attraction to the local community, including the
nearby residents and the church members—a sanctuary amidst a busy city. That being said, I

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believe it would be best to increase community participation and experiences, so that the
surrounding neighborhoods feel a sense of ownership over the park, thus instilling pride for their
community and the natural areas within it. Essentially, the outcomes I expect to see an increase
in are physical fitness, community involvement, increased safety, social bonding, appreciating
nature, and accessibility for all.
Goals and Objectives
Goal 1.1: Provide physical fitness opportunities to improve the health and well-being of
visitors.
Objective 1.1.1: Visitors should have a chance to increase their heart rate and gain
cardiovascular benefits from using equipment provided along the trail.
Objective 1.1.2: Visitors should be able to experience competition and a sense of
achievement by challenging other visitors in various physical fitness activities along the
trail.
Objective 1.1.3: Visitors should be able to enjoy exercising while experiencing
nature throughout the park.
Objective 1.1.4: Visitors should find a variety of activities to participate in, based
on a level of difficulty, skill and age that will promote independent exercising.
Goal 1.2: Provide educational materials, including interpretations, maps, and signs in
order to improve the relationship that visitors have with the park and its natural communities.
Objective 1.2.1: Visitors should know the implications and impacts that their
activities have on each natural community within the park.

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Objective 1.2.2: Visitors should understand the importance of Three Lakes Creek
and its role in the Possum Creek watershed, so that they will understand rules and
regulations to the nearby trails.
Objective 1.2.3: Visitors should be educated on how to safely use the park and its
facilities, and how to respond if criminal activity should occur while they are within the
park.
Objective 1.2.4: Visitors should have the opportunity to understand what it means
to be environmentally friendly, and some of the small changes they can make to their
everyday life that contribute to conserving natural areas like Springtree Park.
Goal 1.3: Provide recreational opportunities that foster a positive relationship between
visitors, park managers, and the environment.
Objective 1.3.1: Visitors should be able to participate in a variety of activities,
including hiking, bicycle riding, and playing.
Objective 1.3.2: Opportunities should promote social bonding and create trust
between visitors and the park managers, so that a sense of safety and security is
established.
Objective 1.3.3: Visitors should be able to participate in miscellaneous activities
that foster their appreciation for nature, such as artistry, photography, bird-watching and
geo-caching.
Objective 1.3.4: Visitors should be able to recreate near the creek, which is a large
attraction within the park.
Goal 1.4: Provide access for all users and meet all requirements for the American
Disabilities Act in at least one zone.

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Objective 1.4.1: Visitors of all ages and abilities should feel comfortable and at
home at the park.
Objective 1.4.2: At least one trail should be wide enough to meet the requirements
of the ADA, and provide these users an opportunity to enjoy the natural communities of
the park.
Objective 1.4.3: All facilities near the main entrance to the park should be
accessible for all users.
Goal 1.5: Provide a safe and secure place for families and visitors to enjoy nature
together.
Objective 1.5.1: Visitors should have the opportunity to park their cars or bicycles
safely near the main entrance to the park.
Objective 1.5.2: Visitors should feel that they know how to contact and have the
resources to contact authorities should illegal or unsafe activities occur.
Objective 1.5.3: Visitors should be aware of the rules and regulations of the park,
including what is considered illegal.
New Zones
The new zones that I would create would not be affected by budget, as they would
incorporate the parcels of land that are located immediately adjacent to the park, allowing some
expansion.
The busiest zone, ‘Zone 1: High Development,’ will feature a small parking lot that has
bicycle racks near the main entrance area, that can accommodate at least 5 cars. In addition, there
will be an upgraded playground that meets current safety standards, including impact absorbing
ground material that is environmentally friendly. Here, any trails will be wide enough to

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accommodate users with disabilities, and the restrooms will also be built according to ADA
guidelines, complete with a ramp up to the entrance. There will be limited understory growth
with low vegetation other than a few trees for cover, as well as a covered picnic area to
accommodate larger groups of people, thus resulting in a high number of contacts. Due to this
accommodation, there will also be multiple trash receptacles that will be maintained on a daily
basis by park employees. Zone 1 will be expanded to cover a greater area of the park, thus
encouraging more families and members of the community to meet and enjoy nature. In addition,
there will be moderate to high levels of management presence, including signage outlining park
rules and regulations, and the occasional visit from park employees and law enforcement
officials. Visitors should expect to achieve social bonding, meeting new people, and community
building within this zone. The most common types of visitors here are families, elderly, and
disabled.
The second zone, ‘Zone 2: Moderate Development,’ will be about the same size as
previously outlined, yet it will feature more defined trails with signs demarcating where the trail
goes, resulting in moderate management presence. In the north area of Zone 2 will be a physical
fitness trail, which will contain several pieces of workout equipment, including pull-up bars and
platforms to do lounges or even crunches. This equipment will encourage visitors to engage in a
wider variety of physical fitness activities, either independently or with others. Other than the
trail and the equipment, the facilities in Zone 2 will be limited to a few benches (designed so that
no one may lie down on them) as well as a trash receptacle every mile or so in order to deter
littering. The contacts within this zone are expected to be moderate, with about 5 contacts, yet
the visitors should still experience remote naturalness, with native vegetation and a sparse
understory. Visitors should expect to achieve physical fitness, stress relief, accomplishment, and

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social bonding from this zone, and a variety of visitors, from hikers to artists would use this area
the most.
The more secluded area of the park, ‘Zone 3: Low development,’ will continue to be
relatively untouched by managers. The trail will be a little more clearly defined, as well as have
sparsely distributed trail signs, leading to a low management presence. The users here are
typically hikers, birdwatchers, photographers and dog owners looking for stress relief, escape,
and appreciation of nature, and expect to only see one or two other people throughout their time
in this zone. The naturalness of this zone is its appeal, so there may even be signs of invasive
species creeping in as managers are less likely to use bush control in this area, and the understory
is thicker here with more canopy trees as well.
A new zone, ‘Zone 4: Mixed Use’ is a designated area for a variety of recreational uses,
including bicycle riding, that is managed and confined to this area. As a result, these activities
will usually create more impact to the environment, but this zone is located on the outskirts of
the park so as to not encourage destruction of the natural communities that lie inside the park.
This zone is located in one of the obtained parcels that would result in expanding the area of the
park, and would feature clearly designed trails. The users expected here would be hikers and
bicycle riders, and would have about 4-6 contacts on average. This zone would be accessible
from NW 39th
Avenue via pedestrian access only, so as to discourage ORV access. The
outcomes expected here are physical fitness, appreciation of nature, and accomplishment.
Management presence would be moderate to high, with strict guidelines posted on signs, along
with physical barriers and even the occasional park employee or law enforcement official.
The final zone created, ‘Zone 5: Educational Area,’ features two areas that will feature
educational interpretations and a self-guided nature walk that is family friendly. Located right

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near Zone 1, this would encourage those who are interested in learning more about the park to
venture into the less developed area. This zone would continue to be accessible to all types of
visitors, but dog owners would not be encouraged to enter. The management presence would be
moderate, as there will be many posted signs and the occasional park employee there to monitor
activities and answer questions. There would be clearly defined trails, sitting areas, and possibly
a second bathroom to accommodate the various users. The number of contacts would be high,
with at least 6 interactions with others, but social learning would be encouraged.

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Part III: Management Strategies for Springtree Park
Springtree Park has a lot of potential to become a community hotspot while still
preserving the natural area as city managers wish to achieve. One of the main problems,
however, is a limited budget of just $200,000 and limited amount of space for expansion. There
are a few parcels of land that could potentially be turned into park lands, but then the rest of the
budget for improving facilities would be depleted. All of the problems boil down to a lack of
management and vision for the park, as the City is more focused on preserving the watershed and
natural communities rather than incorporating recreation into the park to create a more
substantial visitor experience.
Problem: Improper residential use throughout the park has led to several negative
impacts.
Impacts, indicators, standards: User-made trails, creek erosion/widening, residential yard
waste, and criminal activity are the main issues that arise from improper residential use within
the park. The biggest ecological impact is the creation of user-made trails by ORVs, which are
illegal to use within the park, and the biggest social impact is the amount of criminal activity and
lack of public safety throughout the park, especially closer to dusk.
Management strategies to address impacts: In order to address the user-made trails, it is
important to first incorporate better site management. Right now, there are a few defined trails
within the park that are not always managed on a regular basis. Better, more defined trails within
the park would create a diversion from user-made trails and create social pressure to stay on
these defined trails. In the case of the ORV trail, it is important to utilize physical barriers, such
as a fence, at the trailhead to discourage the resident from continuing to enter at that location. In

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addition, using natural vegetation along the rest of the trails to create boundaries would
encourage more aesthetically pleasing trails and make the ORV trail stand out.
Additionally, there should be more regulation as to the types of activities and equipment
allowed within the park. There should be clear designation that ORVs and other motorized
vehicles (with the exception of motorized wheelchairs) are not allowed within the park. Other
such vehicles, such as bicycles, should be restricted to Zone 4 so as to minimalize the impacts to
the environment. In order to enforce the regulations, there should be penalties for those visitors
who enter the park with ORVs, since it is an illegal act. In addition, other visitors should be
educated about these restrictions and why they are in place, such as the impacts the ORVs are
creating on the natural communities.
As far as the criminal activity goes, there should be improvements made as to the quality
of the existing facilities in the park in order to attract more family friendly users and those who
are less likely to commit crimes. In addition, more people in the park would create a deterrent
against criminals. Certain areas or facilities should be closed within a certain window of time
before the park closes in order to discourage visitors from committing illegal activities. For
example, any restrooms within the park should be locked by managers at least 30 minutes before
the park closes. Furthermore, physical barriers such as fences and gates should surround the
perimeter of the park in order to prevent visitors from entering after hours.
In order to regulate and prevent criminal activity, there should be safety features, such as
tables that are locked down or bolted to the ground, incorporated throughout the park. The length
of stay of visitors should be strictly enforced, not allowing anyone to stay in the park for longer
than a day’s operation (dawn to dusk). In order to reiterate these regulations, signs should be
posted at any entrance to the park, reminding visitors of this limitation. Law enforcement should

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be present around the park at least twice a week during closing time in order to pressure
criminals to leave the vicinity. Finally, visitors should be educated and made aware of how to
handle or react to illegal activities happening within the park, and should be provided resources,
such as an emergency phone, to use if necessary.