By Chris Wilson

Construction on the concession/restroom facility at the Jonesville Park is expected to begin in mid-February. The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners approved the construction contract during a late November meeting.

The construction will be completed by Whitaker Construction Services and the cost ($284,393) already has been budgeted for by the county.

The building will feature concession areas, office and storage space and two restrooms. The office and storage space will be utilized by the Gainesville Soccer Alliance. There also will be a large, covered picnic shelter.

“The main purpose of the picnic shelter is to provide someplace safe for parents and soccer players to go during lightning delays,” says Alachua County superintendent of parks Robert Avery.

Construction is expected to be finished well before the 180-day deadline that the company has to complete it, according to Avery.

Avery said in July 2007 that the concession/restroom facility was the only likely new feature to be added to the park in the near future because of proposed property tax reform.

The park also is expected eventually to have baseball and softball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a recreation center and it is the site of the proposed site for the Alachua County Library District’s Jonesville branch library.