Alachua Lions Club members joined together with Troop 88 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts to celebrate completion of scout hut renovations with a ribbon cutting ceremony. / Alachua County Today Staff Photographer

Renovated And Expanded Scout Hut Unveiled

ALACHUA ‒ Renovations to Alachua Boy Scout Troop 88’s scout hut are now officially complete. Chartered in 1912, Troop 88 is one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the United States, with deep ties to the Alachua community and the Alachua Lions Club. The troop has been sponsored by the Alachua Lions Club since the organization’s charter in 1931.

Located on Northwest 142^nd Terrace across from the Alachua Post Office, the Alachua Lions Club broke ground for the expansion of the scout hut on Nov. 10, 2023. The renovation project included a major expansion, increasing the size of the scout hut by two-thirds. Renovations included the refurbishment of the existing restroom, the construction of a new wheelchair-accessible restroom, a new HVAC system, and the addition of a covered front porch.

On Sept. 7, 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the renovations. The event attracted a large crowd that include Lions Club members, current and former Boy Scout Troop 88 and Cub Scout members and leaders. Lions Club members attending included Alachua Mayor and Lions Club Troop 88 Liaison Gib Coerper, Lions Club member and Alachua Vice Mayor Ed Potts, Lions Club Past President Paul Good and Alachua City Commissioner Shirley Green Brown.

Alachua Lions Club President Jack Zuidema offered remarks about the project and the importance the renovated and expanded facility will make for current and future scouts. Coerper led the ribbon cutting ceremony that formally marked the end of construction and a new beginning for the scouts who will be using the building.

Alachua Lions Club records show that the first scout hut in Alachua was built in the 1930s with the help of the Lions Club. After that building burned down in 1983, club member Gilbert Whitman spearheaded the construction of a new scout hut. Tragically, Whitman was killed in a car accident on February 14, 1984, after helping pour the concrete for the new building. The new scout hut, completed in February 1984, was dedicated in his memory.

In 2017, Lions Club member Gib Coerper began efforts to raise funds for another major expansion, with a total price tag of $185,000. Donations from the community, including Scherer Construction, made the renovated scout hut possible. Despite material delays pushing back the initial completion date, construction is now complete.

Thanks to the efforts of so many community members and supporters, Troop 88 now has a larger and fully modernized scout hut to serve future generations.

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ALACHUA ‒ This past Saturday marked the start of the Fall 2024 season for the Santa Fe Alachua Raiders Youth Football & Cheer Program.

The program, which is a staple of the Alachua and High Springs community, organized a vibrant kickoff event featuring games across multiple age groups: 6U, 8U, 10U, and 12U.

The Raiders faced off against Perry Elite from Taylor County, with both the 6U and 12U teams securing their first wins of the season. Meanwhile, the 8U and 10U teams came up short but are hopeful for redemption in their upcoming games against Henry Brown in Jacksonville. The Raiders' next home games are set for Sept. 28, 2024, against the Bradford Cowboys.

Paulie McClain, the current President of the Alachua Raiders, along with coaches and volunteers, orchestrated a successful and engaging event that brought the community together. As the league travels north to Jacksonville this coming weekend, the community wishes them the best of luck.

In addition to the excitement on the field, the Welch Family Reunion brought a spirit of celebration and togetherness to the Hal Brady Recreation Gymnasium over the weekend. The Welch family, a longstanding pillar of the Alachua community, gathered to strengthen family bonds, create lasting memories, and uphold cherished traditions.

On the cultural front, the City of Alachua Recreation & Culture Department is teaming up with Dance About to offer a six-week dance program for children. Registration is currently open for classes that begin on Sept. 30, 2024, and run through Nov. 18, 2024. Classes for grades K-4 will be held on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., and for grades 5-8 from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All sessions will take place at the Legacy Multipurpose Center.

Additionally, the Recreation & Culture Department is launching a new music and arts program at Legacy Park. MapForYouth, a group dedicated to fostering youth appreciation for the arts, will host an open house on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Legacy Park’s Multipurpose Building, located at 5400 Peggy Road, Alachua. This event will provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to explore the program’s offerings, which include introductions to keyboard/piano, digital drums, guitar, arts and crafts, dance, and a variety of fun and engaging games. The open house is free and welcomes anyone interested in learning more about these enriching programs.

For more information about these programs, please contact the City of Alachua Recreation & Culture Department at recreation@cityofalachua.org.

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L-R: City of Alachua Public Services Director Michael Carrillo, Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares, City Manager Mike DaRoza, Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman, Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper, Alachua Vice Mayor Ed Potts, Alachua City Commissioners Shirley Green Brown, Jennifer Ringersen, Dayna Williams (formerly Miller) and Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – A new roadway and waterline extension project is set to enhance both safety and infrastructure in Alachua. On Sept. 5, 2024, the City of Alachua held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Northwest 86^th Drive Roadway and Waterline Extension Project, marking the start of construction aimed at improving fire suppression capabilities and traffic flow in the area.

Once completed, Northwest 86^th Drive will connect to U.S. Highway 441 at the northern end of the San Felasco Tech City area and run alongside an abandoned parking area near the temporary Alachua County fire station. This extension is expected to provide improved access to a planned permanent fire station in southern Alachua.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper offering opening remarks followed by City of Alachua Pubic Services Director Michael Carrilla, P.E., and Alachua Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares, P.E.

Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman spoke on the importance of the project for enhancing emergency services access, while City Manager Mike DaRoza expressed gratitude to all involved for their dedication in bringing the project to life.

Other notable attendees included City of Alachua Vice Mayor Ed Potts, City of Alachua Commissioners Shirley Green Brown, Jennifer Ringersen, Dayna Williams (formerly Miller), and Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus.

Hip Construction, the contractor for the project, was selected as the low bidder and is expected to complete construction by early 2025. Once finished, the roadway and waterline extension will significantly benefit the community by improving infrastructure and safety.

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Weekday serenity at Poe Springs Park offers a peaceful retreat into “Original Florida,” where the only sounds are those of nature. But come summertime, and especially on holidays like Labor Day weekend, the park comes alive with laughter and the joyful chatter of visitors savoring the refreshing, crystal-clear spring waters.

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ After a series of closures due to weather events, renovations, the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently Hurricane Debby, Poe Springs Park is once again open to the public. The park’s reopening on Aug. 31, 2024, perfectly coincided with the Labor Day weekend, providing a scenic outdoor escape for holiday revelers at Alachua County’s largest natural spring.

This past weekend, visitors flocked to the park to enjoy various activities such as tubing, kayaking, hiking, and barbecuing, making the most of the park’s reopening after its recent closure due to flooding from Hurricane Debby. While the park is now operating on its regular seven-days-a-week schedule, Alachua County officials have issued a cautionary advisory for visitors: do not drink the water without boiling it first to kill bacteria and other harmful organisms.

Poe Springs, which pumps an impressive 45 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily, has been a beloved recreation spot for nearly 70 years. The park offers a variety of amenities, including swimming in the spring area, extensive hiking trails, kayak and canoe launches, sports fields, and a lodge building for event rentals, such as parties, family gatherings, and small weddings. The grounds are also equipped with playgrounds, volleyball courts, and picnic shelters complete with barbecue grills.

The park’s history has been marked by a series of openings and closures to accommodate necessary repairs and improvements. Originally privately owned, the initial 75-acre parcel of Poe Springs was acquired by Alachua County in 1985 using a federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Additional acreage was later provided by the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) and further grant funds throughout the 1980s. The park officially opened to the public in 1991 and has since become a popular weekend destination.

Poe Springs has faced several closures over the years due to a variety of factors. It was shut down in December 2011 for extensive construction, which included installing a new retaining wall and steps in the swimming area, as well as updating landscaping and building roofs and air-conditioning units. The park reopened on July 4, 2013, operating four days a week under an arrangement with the City of High Springs, but closed again in 2017 following damage from Hurricane Irma. After repairs, it reopened in May 2018 with a limited schedule of Friday to Sunday.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced another closure in March 2020 under State quarantine mandates, but the park reopened three months later. The springs area, however, closed again in September 2020 for additional renovations, though the boat ramp remained accessible.

Planned to reopen in January 2021, delays pushed the reopening to Memorial Day weekend of that year. The park faced yet another setback in July 2021 when Tropical Storm Elsa caused severe flooding, prompting another temporary closure.

Now, with the park once again open to the public, visitors can enjoy all the natural beauty and recreational amenities Poe Springs Park has to offer. The park features pavilions and picnic shelters, multipurpose fields, a boardwalk through the cypress swamp, and access to the springs via a series of loop trails. For boaters, the park provides a boat launch and a dock with access to the river.

Poe Springs Park is located at 28800 N.W. 182^nd Avenue, High Springs. The entrance fee is $6 per vehicle or $1 per person for walk-in or bicycle entry. However, entry is free from October to April, and fees are waived for individuals with disabilities.

As Poe Springs Park welcomes visitors back, it continues to be a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and families looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

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