Gulf Coast Backs Advancements on The Bay

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Bay Park Conservancy to support the transformation and activation of 53 acres of public land on Sarasota Bay.

The funding will help the Bay Park Conservancy begin to implement a master plan for redeveloping the under-utilized City-owned land into a signature public park on Sarasota's Bayfront. Specifically, it will support the first phase of the project, which includes building out nearly 10 acres of green, open space with environmental restoration, public waterfront access, and an interactive living/learning park laboratory experience.

The Bay Park Conservancy is the successor organization to the former Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization, whose mission was to deliver a professional master plan for the site, which has come to be known as The Bay. The Conservancy is now tasked with creating and operating the park according to that plan and in close coordination with the City of Sarasota.

"The community engagement process for developing The Bay's master plan has been unprecedented," says Gulf Coast CEO Mark Pritchett. "The plan reflects our community's bold vision of what's possible on this precious stretch of bayfront, and we are confident the Bay Park Conservancy can deliver what our community values most." 

Maintaining momentum

Gulf Coast has been closely involved in The Bay from its beginnings as a citizen-driven initiative launched by the Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 community stakeholders group. The foundation previously invested $100,000 in the master-planning process and provided significant leadership in helping to secure over $2 million in philanthropic funding to complete the planning phase. (Read an April 14 op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune signed by Gulf Coast and four other regional foundations affirming philanthropic support for the initiative.)

“Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s support will maintain the momentum of community support we’ve gathered since our plan for The Bay began to take shape,” said AG Lafley, Startup CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. “Initiatives like the bay park are multi-generational assets that improve the vibrancy, engagement, and sustainability of a city. Open, interactive community places like this are what keep Sarasota unique and thriving,” 

The master plan calls for developing the Bay Park in phases, to ensure its sustainability. Phase one of the project, which will cover about nine to 10 acres on the southern portion of the 53-acre site, will comprise restored mangroves and coastal wetlands, a sunset pier and lawn with breathtaking views of the horizon, and a multi-acre "living learning lab" where all types of park-based programs and activities can be tested out. Planners believe the first phase could be completed within three years.

To learn more about The Bay, go here. To view the Master Plan, go here.