The City of Newberry is a small town that continues to attract big business. Located on the outskirts of Alachua County, the flourishing town spans an approximate area of 55 square miles.
The Florida Economic Development Council has defined Newberry as a city that has “quality education with A-graded public schools and its proximity to the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, access to health care, a low cost of living and quality of the local environment, as well as shovel-ready land and a business-friendly government.
One of the nation’s top baseball and softball tournament complexes is located right here in Newberry. Champions Park attracts about 42,000 people annually — a huge draw for sports tourism. In 2021 alone, the park brought in more than $11 million in tourism revenue.
Of that revenue, $2 million came from hotel revenue, including hotel and bed tax. An additional $9 million generated indirect funds tied to restaurants, gas sales and other purchases.
Planned expansion of Champions Park will increase capacity for even more visitors and planned events. In addition, Newberry’s leaders are exploring other ways to expand the
live, work, play culture in the city. Sandia Town Parc will develop around Champions Park and will include 1,400 homes, commercial and light manufacturing facilities.
The recently expanded conceptual plan includes four hotels, single- and multi- family residential units, retail space, recreation and golf areas, a championship stadium and light manufacturing in the southern portion of the development.
In addition to Sandia Town Parc, the City just approved two actions that could lead to the first tiny home residential community in Newberry. The property is located immediately north of the Newberry Town Center Planned Development, south of Southwest 15th Avenue and east of State Road 45. The Barrington Rural Subdivision is a high-end rural community that will include 23 lots with a minimum lot size of two acres.
These new community developments are inspired by Newberry leaders’ vision for its future growth.
“Our city commissioners have a clear vision of how our city should grow from the inside out,” said Bryan Thomas, Newberry’s economic development director. “As the community grows outward, we are developing businesses while still keeping vital green space between Jonesville and Newberry and promoting land conservation. We do not want to grow urban sprawl.”
The City continues its efforts to develop its Agri-Tech Research Park, an economic development project that has infused hundreds of high-tech, high-paying jobs to local farmers. The park serves as a facility for leading research programs and entities, such as the University of Florida’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, to develop new technologies and incubate new agri-tech companies.
Newberry also plans to construct solar power sites in 2023 to supply the city with renewable energy, in development by the solar power company Origis Energy. Newberry will receive 1 megawatt of power from the two 74.9 megawatt solar farms. One megawatt serves around 200 residents.
Not just Champions Park, but many other niche sports and recreational attractions reside in Newberry. The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex includes an indoor and outdoor Olympic Archery Center, training Olympic and world-class athletes in the sport, as well as playgrounds, ball fields, a 60-acre trail center and laser tag fields. A new mixed-use development is also planned for the area surrounding the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex.
The annual Newberry Watermelon Festival, held since 1946, is the longest-running event of its kind and attracts visitors from all over North Central Florida. The event includes a parade, pageants, craft and carnival games, and it is a time-honored tradition for many Newberry residents.
“We are committed to maintaining a small-town, rural feel while still growing at a substantial rate,” Thomas said. “Although we do have a high growth rate, Newberry will have a small-town feel for years to come.”
By Tracy Wright