On March 29, 2007, Sarasota
County purchased a 3.88-acre Gulf-to-Bay site adjacent to
the Bayfront Park Recreation Center on Longboat Key through
the Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program. The Town of
Longboat Key supported the acquisition and has partnered
with the County in the development of the park concept plan
including the public workshops held in February and March,
2009 to seek public input. The concept plan includes both
the existing Bayfront Park Recreation Center property and
the adjacent Longboat Key (Albritton) Site. Three public
meetings were held that were intended to build upon one
another, beginning with a meeting to provide background
information and conduct a walking tour of the existing
overall park site, opportunity for public input on what the
community would like to do and see at the park site, and to
seek feedback on a draft concept plan that would be
developed from the input at the initial meetings. All three
meetings were very well attended and the concept plan
benefited from the range of public input received.
A total of six plans were presented to the public at the
third public meeting held on March 4. Each plan included
similar amenities in a variety of different locations. The
community members who participated in the public meetings
strongly endorsed one of the six concept plans (attached).
The amenities and improvements in the concept plan include:
trails/walking paths throughout the property, boardwalk,
fitness stations and educational
signage/kiosks along the
trails, open field/play area and/or multi-purpose field,
relocated tennis courts, picnic shelters, playground, kayak
launch, fishing pier, relocated boat dock, renovation of
existing recreation center, and construction of a new
community center (+/- 19,500ft2). The portion of the park
site purchased by Sarasota County is proposed to include
tennis courts, trails/walking paths, picnic shelters and
parking areas.
Parks and Recreation provided an update on the park project
to the Parks Advisory and Recreation Council (PARC) on March
5. The PARC unanimously supported the concept plan. The Town
of Longboat Key Commission was presented with an update on
the park planning efforts and the details of the community
supported concept plan on April 16 by Bruce St. Denis and
John McCarthy. The Town Commission supported the concept
plan and directed their staff to prepare a list of steps
toward implementation of the concept plan.
Next Steps
Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU; Sarasota
County Contract No. 2008-159) approved by the Sarasota Board
of County Commissioners and the Longboat Key Town
Commission, upon approval of the draft concept plan, the
next step would be to develop and enter into an Interlocal
Agreement. Staff will coordinate with Town of Longboat Key
and Office of the County Attorney to draft such an
agreement. As stated in the MOU, development of the property
shall proceed as necessary funding becomes available.
Additional next steps will include demolition of the
remaining building on the property purchased through the
Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program (Longboat Key
Site), installation of typical park improvements such as
fencing and signage, and possibly picnic shelters in
accordance with the concept plan. These amenities could be
in place while staff proceeds with necessary zoning
amendments.
