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Nathan Benderson
Park, located at 2500 Honore Ave., is a unique park which
provides the public access to several lakes for non-motorized
boating, fishing, bird-watching and related activities. The
county purchased the site in the early 1990’s. Before that, the
property had been an active shell excavation pit for road
construction fill. Cooper Creek enters the east side of the
large lake and exits at the northwest corner. Nathan Benderson
Park is situated west of Interstate 75 and east of The Meadows
residential community. The future North Cattlemen Road extension
which is currently under construction will provide additional
access to the park and its amenities.
One of a handful of
sites in North America identified as having all of the natural
attributes that make up a premiere rowing facility, Nathan
Benderson Park began hosting organized regatta competitions in
2009. The Sarasota County Commission demonstrated its support
for further development of the park into a state-of-the-art
rowing facility with a financial commitment tied to Sarasota
county’s Tourist Development Tax (TDT).
Numerous regattas and other large recreational events have been
held at the park since 2009. The Local Regatta Organizing
Committee, Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, Sarasota
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, private business’s and several
hundred volunteers have collaborated to sharpen the focus on
development of Sarasota’s future home of world-class rowing at
Nathan Benderson Park. Visit the websites below for more
information on rowing regattas:
Project Development
Benderson and Sarasota County have partnered together to plan
for future park improvements and have held several community
workshops to solicit ideas for the future recreational
opportunities at Nathan Benderson Park. A detailed master plan
was developed and approved by the county commission in July of
2010. The park will balance community recreation needs and
provide a venue for large specialty events. The world class
recreational venue will also provide for community rowing
(youth, adults and seniors), adaptive rowing (disabled veterans,
youth/adults with mental and physical disabilities), corporate
events, training and practice for junior and collegiate crews,
local, regional, national and international regattas.
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Sarasota County and Benderson Development hosted a public
meeting on June 24, 2010 to present the Park Concept Plan
and to receive public input.
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County staff and Benderson Development presented the park
plan to the
Parks Advisory and Recreation Council (PARC)
on July 1, 2010 and to the Sarasota County Commission on
July 14, 2010. The County Commission unanimously approved
the plan and directed the staff to proceed with
design/engineering and to seek additional input on financing
options.
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On January, 25, 2011, Sarasota County entered into an
agreement with Benderson Development to implement Phase 1
and 2 of the Nathan Benderson Park Nature Aquatic Center.
Project Update
Benderson’s first task under their contract was to develop a
preliminary design plan (PDP) for implementing design and
construction of the project. The PDP is an evolution of the Park
Concept Plan approved by the County in July of 2010. Much work
has gone into developing the PDP and some revisions to the
concept plan have been proposed. Specific elements of the
concept plan with respect to buffering the residential
communities adjacent to the park have NOT been revised.
Benderson has worked diligently with local community and
international stakeholders to ensure the PDP includes all
elements to make the Nathan Benderson Nature Aquatic Center (NBNAC)
a FISA (the international governing body of the sport of rowing)
certifiable rowing and sporting venue as well as a world class
community park treasure.
The most significant modifications included in the proposed PDP
are:
- Design of a continuous water
sport route within the larger lake area by separating the
event center land mass from the future North Cattlemen Road
and moving it into the lake as an island.
- Expansion of the island
event center footprint to accommodate all anticipated uses.
- Connection of the island
event center to North Cattlemen Road by two vehicular
bridges which ensure adequate traffic flow and circulation.
As advised by FISA, these
modifications are highly suggested to ensure the NBNAC will be a
viable venue to accommodate top rowing and sporting events.
The county’s financial commitment
to the project is $19.5 million of Tourist Development Funds for
completion of Phases I and II of NBNAC. The original agreement
indicates a specific scope of work to be completed with these
funds. After accounting for the proposed modifications, the cost
of completing Phases I and II have increased. Therefore, to
include the proposed modifications mentioned above, specific
items from the original scope of work are proposed to be delayed
until later Phases of implementing the full plan for NBANC.
On Tues., Oct. 25, 2011, county
staff discussed these items with the commission and they
approved the PDP and provided authorization for the Developer to
proceed with the next contract task of providing 30 percent
design plans and a Guaranteed Maximum Price for completing
Phases I and II of NBANC.
Resources
North Cattlemen Road Improvement
Project
Rowing Regatta
site
About
the “Future World-Class 2,000
Meter Rowing Facility"
Video:
"World Class Rowing Sarasota"
Video of Nathan Benderson
Park “2000 Meters by 2011”
Map of Nathan Benderson Park
Nathan
Benderson Park Fact Sheet
If you would like to reserve
open space for a special event or utilize the racecourse at
Nathan Benderson Park, contact Bob Whitford, Parks and
Recreation manager, at 941-861-5000.
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Click on a photo to enlarge
