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Picnic Shelter

Lime Lake Park officially opened on July 30, 2011. It is a beautiful three acre neighborhood park located at the end of Lime Avenue in Sarasota. Exercise by walking the wide concrete trail that circles the lake, fish at the pier, or enjoy time with family and friends at one of the two gazebos. To reserve the gazebo located near the lake, call 861-5000.

Watch the Grand Opening ceremony for Lime Lake Park
Photos from the Grand Opening of Lime Lake Park

Amenities

• Walking trail
• Two gazebos
• Fishing pier
• Grills
• Picnic tables
• Fountain in the middle of the lake

Background
The Lime Lake project centers on an area located at the terminus of Lime Avenue and south of Emma Booker Elementary School. The site includes a three acre stormwater pond, known as Lime Lake, which is owned by Sarasota County. The community requested that the county partner with them to improve the conditions at the site and assist with the conversion of what is essentially a vacant and underutilized area into a small neighborhood park.  

A community-based action plan was developed and Sarasota County staff have been engaged with the North County Community Organization and other area residents to move this project forward. Euline Myrick has been a determined community leader involved with this effort. Parks and Recreation has been coordinating with the Sarasota County School Board, Capital Management, Stormwater, Neighborhood Services, Public Works/Mobility, Natural Resources, Solid Waste – Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, Land Development, and Housing and Community Development to make this project and park come to a reality.

Park Planning and Community Engagement
After partnering with various stakeholders over the past several years, the ideas and actions were starting to come together. A public meeting was conducted on July 28, 2009, in the Newtown Estates Recreation Center with approximately 50 community members in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to share with the community the history of the project and also the proposed improvements to the park. The amenities shown within the plan include: a walking trail around the perimeter of the lake which would incorporate a boardwalk or bulkhead structure on the east side with a handrail/fence structure, a fishing pier, gazebo, solar powered aerator in the middle of the lake (for filtration and aesthetics), benches, picnic tables, ADA parking spaces, areas for shoreline plantings/ restoration and educational signage. The members of the public who attended the meeting supported the plan and offered suggestions for improvements. Following community input, County staff presented the park plan to the Sarasota County Commission who approved the plan on Oct. 14, 2009.

The project has continued moving forward with the assistance of Neighborhood Services and Housing and Community Development who were awarded federal stimulus dollars that have helped to fund the design and construction of the park improvements that are currently underway.

Lime Lake Concept Plan

Project Timeline

• North County Community Organization becomes increasingly involved in education and outreach for improvements to the future park.
• Public Meeting held on July 28, 2009 to share ideas for future park improvements.
• Improvements to site include: additional fencing, repairs to existing fence, removal of nuisance invasive vegetation, removal of concrete and other large debris.
• North County Community Organization enrolled in the “Adopt a Park" Keep Sarasota County Beautiful program.
• First Community Clean Up Event held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009.
• Sarasota County Commission approves park concept plan on Oct. 14, 2009.
• Sarasota County School Board Conveys .36 acres of land to be included as part of the park.
• Grant funds awarded to assist in the design and construction of park improvements.
• Sarasota County Commission approves construction contract to begin park improvements, Sept. 28, 2010.
• On Oct. 12, 2010, the Sarasota County Commission accepts .36 acres of land from the School Board that will be included as part of the Lime Lake Park Project. Commissioner Mason states her appreciation to the School Board for the land and the true partnership on this project.
• Construction begins for Lime Lake Park – Groundbreaking Event, Nov. 17, 2010.

Lime Lake Park Groundbreaking Video

For more information on the Lime Lake Park project or to volunteer, contact Euline Myrick from the North County Community Organization 952-0668 or email parksquestions@scgov.net.