In and Around Sarasota
- Ringling Boulevard Transformation
- US 41 at Gulfstream Roundabout
- The Bay Project
- Selby's Gardens Master Plan
- Mote Sea
- Bobby Jones Restoration
Ringling Trail Celebrates its Opening - December 15, 2022
The Ringling Trail "complete street" features protected bicycle lanes for one mile between Lime and Pineapple avenues in downtown Sarasota creating a safer road experience for recreational cyclists and commuters. The lanes also provide connectivity between The Legacy Trail at Payne Park and the downtown core, Pineapple and Lime avenues in downtown Sarasota. It enhances connectivity from The Legacy Trail to the downtown core, making the road safer for recreational cyclists and commuters. Project Completion - December 2022.
US 41 at Gulfstream Roundabout Nears Completion
Traffic Switched to Phase 2B on Saturday 12/16/2022
The new traffic pattern put the Gulfstream Avenue & US 41 intersection into the roundabout configuration; the crossover patterns at Main Street and Sunset Drive are being removed. The switch will occur at night and consist of pavement marking removal, temporary barrier wall removal, temporary traffic separator removal, signage installation and adjustment, and signalization work.
Even though the traffic will be using the roundabout, there is still a lot of other auxiliary work with landscaping, restoring parking and other activities before this project is completed in May 2023.
The Bay
"The Bay is a community, city and park conservancy initiative to transform 53 acres of city-owned land, that is mostly parking lot, into a signature public park on Sarasota Bay. Once complete, The Bay will include a wide range of park uses that will be open and accessible, free and welcoming, to the full and rich diversity of our community. Sign up to receive their newsletter via EMAIL
Phase 1 Update (presented to LKRA)
The Bay Park GRAND OPENING October 14 - 23, 2022
10 Days at the Bay
Selby Gardens’ Master Plan
In February 2021, the Sarasota City Commission gave final approval to the applications necessary for Selby Gardens’ Master Plan (updated) to become a reality! This undertaking is vital to preserving the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens history, safeguarding the world’s best scientifically documented plant collections of their kind, and sustaining its future — both environmentally and financially. Project Updates
Phase One scheduled to be completed in Fall 2023 will include:
- A new Welcome Center to properly accommodate and orient guests.
- A cutting-edge Plant Research Center that will include a state-of-the-art Herbarium and Laboratory as well as a Research Library to appropriately steward rare books and prints dating to the 1700s.
- The Living Energy Access Facility (LEAF) that will house parking, a gift shop and a garden-level restaurant – capped with a 50,000-square-foot solar array that will make Selby Gardens the world’s first net-positive botanical garden complex. As part of the LEAF, a stormwater filtration system will treat stormwater runoff and return clean water to Sarasota Bay.
Mote SEA
In November 2020, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium broke ground for their new $130 million, 4 story, 110,000 sq. ft. Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. Although Lido residents are sad that we will lose the convenience of the existing Mote Aquarium on City Island, we are excited with the cultural, educational and economic opportunities this brings our community. Research and Labs will remain on City Island.
Anticipated opening is early 2024.
Bobby Jones Golf Club Restoration
The City Commission in early 2022 unanimously approved placing a conservation easement on Bobby Jones Golf Club, restoring the historic 18-hole Donald Ross golf course, and constructing a new 9-hole adjustable course and clubhouse. The conservation easement will limit the use to recreation, parkland and green space in perpetuity. The reconstructed Bobby Jones municipal golf course will be downsized from 45 holes to 27 holes and will include a 150-acre nature park while improving water quality. Wetlands will be created to filter stormwater as it flows through the Bobby Jones property, which is located within a significant regional watershed, and ultimately ends in Sarasota Bay. The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved a $1.5 million grant for a wetlands and water quality improvement project on the site. Also approved is a conservation easement with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast over the 261-acre Bobby Jones Golf property. Groundbreaking was held on March 4th, 2022.
Estimated Golf Course Opening is Fall 2023.