Partners & Friends
LIZ ALPERT
Mayor, City of Sarasota
Designed to be inclusive, welcoming and freely accessible, The Bay park offers diverse programming and notable environmental improvements.
Observing residents and visitors of all backgrounds and ages engaging in healthy outdoor activities, socializing at The Nest, playing on the Ibis Playground, or relaxing on Common Ground fills me with joy. This truly embodies the promise of "One Park for All.”
In October 2023, more than 14,000 happy people gathered for one or more of the 30-plus events that were part of The Bay Turns One! First Anniversary Community celebration - showcasing the community's unity and dedication to this ever-evolving blue and green oasis.
The Bay stands as a beacon of environmental stewardship as it conserves, preserves and restores mangroves, bayous and acres of greenspace while it also improves water and air quality which, in turn, improves the health of the natural habitat and people.
With the subsequent development of Phase 2, it is evident that The Bay Park Conservancy, alongside the City of Sarasota and the community, is steadfast in its commitment to delivering a distinctive public park accessible to everyone.
I wholeheartedly endorse the City of Sarasota's ongoing partnership with The Bay Park Conservancy and its transparent, collaborative efforts with the community.
MARLON BROWN
City Manager, City of Sarasota
From inception, The Bay partnership has been built on a foundation of mutual respect and trust among The Bay Park Conservancy, the community, and the City of Sarasota.
This collaborative effort aims to transform precious city-owned bayfront into a gathering place for our community. The Bay is an amazing community asset that greatly increases green space and public access to our stunning waterfront – so important to our citizens.
This long-term, sustainable public-non-profit partnership sets a new standard for cooperative urban development and is the first of its kind for our community.
On behalf of our 55,000 residents, businesses, and millions of visitors, we express our gratitude for our partnership with The Bay Park Conservancy. We eagerly anticipate further implementation of the BPC's Master Plan across this 53-acre site, as we continue to create an unparalleled blue and green oasis that provides a multitude of benefits for our vibrant and diverse community and will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
This partnership continues to be significant for Sarasota, establishing high standards for community collaboration and urban development.
JENNIFER COMPTON
Board Chair, The Bay Park Conservancy
As The Bay has become a beloved gathering place for locals and visitors alike, The Bay Park Conservancy’s commitment to continue to create, operate and program “more park for all” is unwavering.
Over the past year, plans for what’s in store across the 53-acre site continued to unfold.
The City Commission approved an updated Master Plan which includes environmental and experiential enhancements including restaurants for waterfront dining; an improved boating experience; and additional substantial sustainable water quality improvements with the goal to treat every drop of stormwater before entering Sarasota Bay.
With construction of Phase 2 beginning in 2024, the vision expands to develop a continuous loop of green space encircling the site and features the continuation of a living resilient shoreline; a new seawall and day docks to provide access from the water; a new front door to the park connecting historic buildings with a tree-lined Promenade and a vibrant Town Square; and a Sunset Pier. Targeted Phase 2 completion is 2026.
Until then, like you and so many in our community, I will continue to enjoy everything The Bay offers every day - a stunning, well-kept public park that offers unprecedented free park programming and, undeniably, the best seat in the house to watch spectacular sunsets.
AG LAFLEY
Founding CEO, The Bay Park Conservancy
2023 marked the first full year The Bay was open to park guests.
340,000 guests visited this community gathering place last year and 50,000 attended one or more free programs, activities or events -- well beyond expectations.
2023 was not about the numbers… it was about the surprisingly delightful experiences created every day for every park guest enabled by an ongoing commitment to deliver on The Bay’s Guiding Principles.
Park guests express surprise and wonder while enjoying this beautiful Florida-native public park, a blue and green oasis in an urban environment, just a few blocks from the heart of downtown.
There is clear evidence that the health of the flora, fauna, and marine habitat within the park have improved due to the environmental restoration of the Mangrove Bayou and Fountain Garden. The ibis’s have returned to roost in the mangroves; the seagrass colonies are growing again; fish and other marine life are returning.
Best water quality enhancement practices enable The Bay park to treat more than 70 million gallons of polluted stormwater before entering Sarasota Bay every year.
Just as important, keeping the park looking as good every day as it did on opening day and providing a unique mix of free programming consistently delivers on The Bay’s promise of "One Park for All.”
2023 Leadership Donors
107 Founding Business Partners
107 local businesses became Founding Business Partners of The Bay — collectively providing more than $250K to support free park programming for everyone to enjoy.