The Historic Bike Trail goes directly through some of Gainesville's oldest neighborhoods. Let's take a look at some of the many landmarks that dot the area.
The Duckpond Neighborhood in Gainesville FL is Gainesville's first neighborhood. It began in the 1870s and embraces 8 subdivisions (but only comprises a total of 292 acres in size).
The neighborhood is extremely walkable, extending only 1 mile by one-half mile in size, and sitting adjacent to downtown Gainesville. Streets are a connected grid pattern, with sidewalks on both sides of all streets. Most streets are curbed and quite narrow. Residents are extremely sociable, proud, and fiercely protective of the neighborhood. 4 University of Florida presidents had houses in Duckpond.
The Thomas Center began in 1906 and was completed in 1910. It was named “Sunkist Villa.” Major William Reuben Thomas, his wife Kathryn, and their five children made the impressive estate their home for 15 years.
Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church was founded on July 16, 1867, with the Reverend Isaac Davis serving as the first pastor. The Board of Trustees of the oldest black congregation in Gainesville.
This church is associated with civil rights in Alachua County and North Central Florida. The church is associated with Reverend T. A Wright, a local leader of the NAACP during that era.
The Historic Firestone Building was built in 1927 for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company until it was abandoned in the 1950s when the economy dipped. 40 years later Phoebe Cade Miles, the Daughter of Dr. Cade, acquired the building initially for offices and event space. This proved costly. The building today houses the local business Scout GPS/IoT.
This site, known locally as the Ballpark, was the center of recreational activities in Gainesville for more than 60 years. From 1883-1910 Gainesville's Oak Hall baseball team played here against teams from Florida and the Southeast. The Oak Halls played the first-night baseball game in Alachua County here in 1909. The Central City Giants, an African American team, also played baseball here. When the University of Florida (UF) opened its doors in the fall of 1906, there was no suitable location on campus for playing football.