Wilmot Gardens
Spanning five acres, Wilmot Gardens creates a place where nature helps to heal the body and mind. Located just north of the Davis Cancer Pavilion in the UF Health Medical Plaza, the gardens serve as a relaxing place for patients and their families to stroll and reflect in times of crisis or in celebration of healing.
Wilmot Gardens is currently under renovation to repair damage done by Southern pine beetles and the hurricanes of 2005. Your support for the restoration of Wilmot Gardens can renew and rejuvenate this gem on the University of Florida medical campus. To contribute please contact our Development and Alumni Affairs Office at 352-273-7986 or 1-877-DrG-ator (1-877-374-2867).
Health Center Park - Bartram Carr Woods Conservation Area
The Bartram-Carr Woods Conservation Area is a 9-acre upland hardwood located between the Academic Health Center and University of Florida's main campus. The space offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the hospital and provides a recharge area for creeks that run to Lake Alice in the center of campus. There are rubber-paved paths that lead up and around the woods.
At the south entrance to the woods, just over the creek bridge, lies Health Center Park. This is a wide grassy space, sheltered by pine trees with sitting areas, picnic benches, and a covered pavilion along the edge of the creek.
Academic Research Building Courtyard
The Academic Research Building Courtyard is accessible from UF Health Shands Hospital through the Founder's Gallery, which is east of Sun Terrace on the north end of the building.
The Courtyard is a sloped hill, with broad steps and terraces covered with trees and grass. It is a quiet spot to eat and reflect or to lay in the sun.
Sun Terrace
The Sun Terrace is a large open air courtyard on the North side of UF Health Shands Hospital, accessible from the first floor corridor from the atrium that passes the Food Court. There are several eateries on the Terrace, including Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, Salad Creations, Einstein Brothers Bagels, and Starbucks.
The Sun Terrace provides both shaded and unshaded seating, including large round tables for dining and park benches.
Garden of Hope
The Garden of Hope is symbolic of the thoughtful quality of care patients will receive at UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital. Located on the grounds of the cancer hospital, the garden provides relief to the senses through its use of water, sunlight and natural foliage. As visitors stroll past benches, trees and a lake, they have time to pause, reflect and heal.
Patients, their families, visitors and employees who visit the garden can view tributes to loved ones living with cancer, those who have defeated cancer and memorials. The garden is located on the southeast side of the UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital.
It serves as a community center for all area residents and a site for public events such as concerts and programs by UF Health Arts in Medicine.
Contributions to the Garden include memorials and tributes such as pavers, honor wall plaques, trees and benches. Gifts to the garden can also be made through garden parties. Gainesville community leaders have hosted "garden parties" as part of the Raising Hope campaign to bring awareness to the plans for the garden and give residents a chance to donate to this new community asset.
Lake Alice
Lake Alice is a signature feature of the University of Florida campus. It is a proven sanctuary to alligators as well as many birds. At dusk, a colony of bats that roost in a nearby bat house emerges to cleanse the sky of much of the insect life that the lake nourishes. A dusk outing to view the impressive cloud of bats leaving the house for their nocturnal sorties is a popular local pastime.
Baughman Center
The Baughman Center, a place of private meditation and public celebration, is an intimate shelter available to all members and friends of the university community. The 96-seat, 2,000-square-foot structure incorporates gothic-influenced design, strategic placement, and environmentally appropriate materials.
Florida Museum of Natural History Butterfly Rain Forest
Stroll through this 6,400-square-foot screened, outdoor enclosure with tropical plants and hundreds of living butterflies. Inside, view thousands of Lepidoptera species on the "Wall of Wings" and learn about butterfly and moth biology. See scientists working in the Rearing Lab and other research areas. View the FLMNH Butterfly website for more information.
Harn Museum Asian Wing
There are two Asian-inspired gardens incorporated into the new Cofrin East Asian art wing at the Harn Museum. Theses gardens provide elemental balance as well as a renewal of the human
The first garden is designed to provide peace and tranquility among bridges and ponds, sculptures, waterfalls, stones and exotic flora. Museum visitors will see beautiful plants including giant bamboo, Wild Azaleas, Trumpet Vines, Japanese and Coral Honeysuckle, Taiwan Cherry, Southern Magnolias, Bat-Leaved Passion Flowers, Confederate Jasmine, Armand’s Clematis and Japanese Maples.
The second garden is a meditative Zen garden of sand and stone. It provides for quiet contemplation and meditation.
Admission to the Harn is free.
Stadium
Also known as "The Swamp" Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is located on the northern edge of the university's campus, about one mile from Shands. The stadium is generally open to the public on non-game days, and is often used for jogging and cross training by exercisers from the campus and the community.