City of Alachua provides public internet in neighborhood parks
Press release from City of Alachua
ALACHUA, Fla. – The City of Alachua has launched Access Alachua, a project providing public internet at the City’s neighborhood parks. As of August 5, 2024, community members and visitors will be able to access public internet at Criswell Park, Maude Lewis Park, and Welch Park.
“Offering public internet free to the community in certain areas will support our citizens in many ways,” said City of Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper. “Community education, connection, engagement, and outdoor activity are just a few of them.”
Signage has been placed in the areas where community members can access the service, assisting with ease of connection and use. Since the service is public, users will be required to read and acknowledge a disclaimer, outlining permitted use and connection security.
Access Alachua is proudly sponsored by the City’s Electric Department, using its resources to reinvest in the community and its citizens.
The City has future plans for the Access Alachua project, as well. “Our goal is to increase the number of public areas where our community can easily access the internet in the coming years,” said Rodolfo Valladares, Assistant City Manager for the City of Alachua. “Access Alachua is just one way the City is providing valuable resources for the Good Life Community.”
Does it filter out human and sex trafficking sites?
Great. We can do away with libraries now because they are obsolete…the internet is the new library of Alexandria.
LOL “connection security.” I want to make it clear I have no inside information, just speculation after watching TV shows.
But.
I cannot help to notice that all three “free internet” parks are all in high crime, drug trafficking, and gang activity (if there were any gangs in Alachua, which APD denies) areas of the city. I am certain APD would NEVER say “let’s put free tapped internet in these parks, and wait for the drug dealers to use them to conduct their business while we record.” Nah, cops would never do such a thing. Not in Alachua.
“free to the community” means the most expensive and non functional Internet possible. Is Alachua trying to compete with Gainesville in being San Francisco Lite?
Great. So parents can be more easily distracted in stead of watching the children play – outside! And, of course, so kids can just access the internet while they are OUTSIDE, instead of playing. Pathetic.
W are you crazy, or an accident attorney? You want kids to go to a park and run and throw a ball? That is too dangerous, they could get fall down and get hurt and sue the city. Far safer to sit and stare at a screen, like they do at home. Gotta protect the young uns to prepare them to grow up to become adults who stare at screens.
Question: what percent of children who cannot afford internet at home own a laptop they can take to the city park to connect?
I like this idea. Now parents can take their kids to the park, and while kids play the parents can go to the city’s website and do “community education, connection, engagement” civic things like view online city commission meetings to be informed citizens.
Oh. Wait. Alachua has spent tons of money on commission chamber cameras and audio, but does NOT stream their meetings on the internet and does NOT put them on the city website because they hate transparency and love to stonewall public records and public access. Gibby, you are a pure hypocrite. Livestream your meetings.
And the photo on your press release is at Legacy Park. Does it have free wifi? Skinner Park? City Hall?
First off who wants to go to those parks where shootings have taken place, and shootings that lead to deaths. I wouldn’t want my kids to go there to play let alone go for internet access…I swear i don’t know what people are thinking about half the time. Make Alachua safe….not make alachua’s parks have wifi access…like what?!?!?!