Martin Luther King Neighborhood Center

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

The Martin Luther King Neighborhood Center is located in Gainesville, Florida and serves as a hub for various community programs and events.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

It was named after the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and was established in 1971. The center offers a variety of services such as educational programs, youth sports leagues, and senior citizen activities.

Some good reasons to visit the center include attending community events, participating in sports leagues, and utilizing the educational resources available. The center also features a playground and recreational areas for families to enjoy.

One specific point of interest at the center is the mural painted by local artist, Yvonne Ferguson-Lewis, which depicts key moments in the civil rights movement. The center also hosts an annual MLK Day celebration that includes a march, speeches, and performances.

Interesting facts about the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Center include that it was originally established as a segregated facility, but has since become an important gathering place for the entire community. The center also recently underwent renovations to improve accessibility and update facilities.

The best time of year to visit the center would depend on personal interests and the events scheduled. However, the annual MLK Day celebration in January is a popular event to attend.

       

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
View more

Featured Parks