Gainesville’s Bivens Arm Nature Park remains closed during marsh restoration

Gainesville’s Bivens Arm Nature Park remains closed after work began July 6 on a marsh-restoration and boardwalk-replacement project. The city anticipates reopening the park in April 2027, but that date remains a target rather than a guarantee.

The 81-acre park is at 3650 S. Main St. in south Gainesville and includes nearly two miles of trails. The closure affects hikers, families, wildlife watchers and nearby residents who use the park’s trails, marsh views and boardwalk areas.

What the restoration includes

The project is intended to restore marsh habitat and wetland water levels that were lowered through channelization and wetland drainage. Planned work includes removing vegetation, installing approximately 1,700 aquatic plants and modifying the marsh’s outlet channel.

Phase 1 construction also includes a sheet-pile weir, a structure designed to help manage water levels, along with related channel work. The broader project includes replacing the park’s boardwalk system.

City project documents connect the marsh restoration to wetland-buffer mitigation associated with Southwest 62nd Boulevard and the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative. The work is being carried out in phases, so the Phase 1 construction schedule should not be treated as a completion date for every part of the broader project.

Why the project has two cost figures

WCJB reported the broader Bivens Arm Marsh restoration project at approximately $3.5 million. That figure covers a wider project effort and should not be confused with the construction award documented for the first phase.

The City Commission’s guaranteed maximum price agreement awards Phase 1 construction to Oelrich Construction at $487,880. The agreement documents the Phase 1 construction scope; it does not establish that the entire restoration project has been completed or that the broader project amount has been spent.

The city’s FY 2026 budget records also identify carryforward funding associated with Bivens Arm Marsh restoration and boardwalk replacement projects.

What visitors should expect

For residents, the immediate consequence is that Bivens Arm Nature Park is unavailable during construction. The city’s anticipated April 2027 reopening should be treated as an expected timing, not a guaranteed deadline.

Residents planning hikes or wildlife-viewing visits should check the city’s Bivens Arm Nature Park page for updates before returning. Until the work is finished and the city reopens the site, the park’s trails and boardwalk amenities remain closed.

The intended long-term result is restored wetland habitat and renewed park infrastructure. In the meantime, the closure limits access to one of south Gainesville’s larger public nature areas while the phased work proceeds.

Sources

• Bivens Arm Nature Park closure notice — City of Gainesville
• 2025-816A Guaranteed Maximum Price Agreement — City of Gainesville
• Gainesville approves $3.5 million restoration project at Bivens Arm Marsh — WCJB