GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) — With summer break underway and families looking for ways to keep their children safe and engaged, local leaders are urging parents to take part in a community-wide effort to prevent gun violence.

On May 31, the City of Gainesville and Alachua County held a Survivors of Gun Violence Memorial Ceremony at Squirrel Ridge Park to mark the start of Gun Violence Awareness Month.

The ceremony was the first in a series of events organized by IMPACT GNV, the city’s gun violence prevention initiative launched in 2024 by Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry. Local officials, including Gainesville City Commissioner Ed Book, Alachua County Commissioner Charles Chestnut, and State Representative Yvonne Hinson, delivered emotional remarks emphasizing unity, remembrance, and action.

Engraved memorial stone for Becca Harris with birth and death dates, placed in the soil near greenery at Squirrel Ridge Park in Gainesville.
Memorial with angel statue and engraved stone for Shane Crutchfield surrounded by greenery at Squirrel Ridge Park in Gainesville, Florida.
Photo of Justin St. John in military uniform and engraved memorial plaque on a wooden bench at Squirrel Ridge Park in Gainesville.
Stone memorial plaque in honor of Christa, daughter of retired union member Gary Hoyt, placed at Squirrel Ridge Park in Gainesville.
Memorials at Squirrel Ridge Park honor the lives of Shane Crutchfield, Justin St. John, Christa Hoyt, and Becca Harris, each remembered during Gainesville’s Gun Violence Awareness Month ceremony on May 31, 2025. Courtesy: City of Gainesville

IMPACT GNV is backed by a broad network of partners, including the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Fe College, Moms Demand Action, Alachua County Victim Services, the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center, and the Alachua County Crisis Center. Together, these organizations work to reduce gun violence through education, outreach, enforcement, and community engagement.

Throughout June, events and programs will continue across Gainesville to honor victims, support survivors, and empower residents—especially young people—with tools to build safer neighborhoods.

Families interested in participating can follow the City of Gainesville’s website and social media channels for updates.

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