Walking trail in SE Gainesville built to improve health of residents and honor area icons

A new walking trail in the Lincoln Estates community in southeast Gainesville seeks to improve the health of residents and increase awareness of people who have made a difference in the community.

Funded by the city of Gainesville’s part of the Wild Spaces & Public Places program and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, the Lincoln Yard Park walking trail that begins at 2099 SE Eighth Ave. was introduced to the community during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.

Construction of the park cost $370,000, and includes a one-third mile walking trail, small playground, adult fitness equipment, landscaping and signs with biographies of notable Lincoln Estates residents and the founder.

The city held community engagement meetings between 2018-2019 to discuss what residents wanted in the park, said Betsy Waite, project manager of WSPP, who added she is glad to see the project come to life after the pandemic put construction on hold.

"It takes so many people to make this process possible," Waite said. "I want to thank Doris Edwards for being a champion of the efforts in Lincoln Estates."

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Signage in the park highlights the achievements of Philip Emmer, developer of the Lincoln Estates community, the late Thomas Benjamin (T.B.) McPherson, a Gainesville native who was a distinguished an pioneering Black educator, administrator and coach in Alachua County during segregation at former all-Black Lincoln High School, and the late Andrew R. Mickle Sr. and his widow, Catherine Mickle, a married couple who had served the greater Gainesville community, especially southeast Gainesville, since the 1950s

The Lincoln Estates neighborhood served as a model for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) public housing programs.

"There's only one Phil," said Barbara Emmer, widow of Phil Emmer. "I'm sorry he's not here to see it."

Doris Edwards, a longtime Lincoln Estates resident, loved Philip Emmer's tenacity to fulfill his vision.

"He had a dream, and at any cost he brought it to life," Edwards said. "He helped people in the neighborhood and he was great at remembering names and connecting with people."

Edwards said she is pleased with Lincoln Yard Park.

She thanked Waite for considering the input of Lincoln Estates residents after expressing concerns in December after the approval of the designs.

"I love it," Edwards said. "Betsy has amazing people skills and she listened to me and integrated what needed to be done. We talked and worked it out and they did an amazing job. It's smaller, but it's adequate. I love how one trail is looping with another trail."

Edwards hopes that there will be more additions to Lincoln Yard Park in the future, such as a pavilion, places to sit and a garden to pray.

"We are standing in an asset to the community," said Desmon Duncan-Walker, who represents District 1 on the Gainesville City Commission. "This is critical to the health of our well-being. Lincoln Yard Park is an example of what is possible when the community comes together."

The trail will compliment recent growth around Lincoln Estates, including the Heartwood community and a future UF Health urgent care center, said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward.

"I want to thank the staff for making this possible and for listening to what the community needs," Ward said. "I want to thank Gainesville and Alachua County for its continued support. We are committed to building a good quality of life in this community."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Honoring icons, improving health at heart of trail in SE Gainesville