Tom Petty To Be Honored In Hometown

Gainesville will celebrate its native son this fall with the installation of a hometown historical marker. The three-member Florida Historical Marker Council gave the final thumbs up on Friday for the $2,300 two-sided metal plaque. Set to be located inside a park named after Petty in the Duckpond neighborhood, the unveiling will take place on what would have been his birthday, October 20. This is the second effort by Gainesville to honor the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Shortly after his death in 2017, State Sen. Keith Perry tried unsuccessfully to rename a portion of US Highway 441, which Petty name checks in "American Girl".