The Bay Park Conservancy
2024 Annual Report
2024 Year in Review
From the beginning, these Guiding Principles listed below serve as the touchstone of every idea, design, decision and action at The Bay.
2024 results and the continued progress of creating “More Park for All” are examples of how these Principles are brought to life every day.
One Park for All
Enables community aspirations to become everyday realities. The Bay is free and welcoming, open and accessible to the full and rich diversity of the community, now and for generations to come.
669,000
park guests visited since the park first opened in October 2022. (319,000 people came to The Bay in 2024).
44,000
people participated in at least one FREE park activity, program or event in 2024.
3.5 million
Cumulative connections have been made with those in the community through outreach meetings, communications (e.g. newsletters, social) and with guests in the park.
Through December 2024
Transformation
Transforms what is mostly parking lot into a dynamic public park along Sarasota Bay.
The completed 53-acre park in total will cost an estimated $200 million and will take approximately 8-10 years to complete over four or more phases.
Phase 2 design and construction (a $65 million project) continued in 2024 — creating “More Park for All” by expanding the “ring” of resilient park green space around the site.
Phase 2 progress in 2024 included:
Cultural District: Rehabilitation of the historic Sarasota Garden Club (1960) and Chidsey Library (1941) buildings continued. Phase 2 also includes the future renovation of the Municipal Auditorium (1937), Bayfront Community Center (1940), and Blue Pagoda (1956). Design efforts continued for revitalizing the front door of the park along N. Tamiami Trail, including a stunning tree-lined Promenade (Opening Fall 2025) and a vibrant new Town Square gathering place. (Opening Fall 2026)
Resilient Shoreline: Design continued to expand the living, resilient shoreline along the western edge of the site, incorporating important learning from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. This project will enable the park to better handle and endure flooding and storm surges that are inherent parts of tropical storms and hurricanes. (Expected completion Fall 2026)
Canal District (North of 10th Street): 3,000+ cubic yards of toxic material (incl. arsenic, nitrogen, phosphate) were dredged from the basin floor. Construction of a rehabilitated seawall and new day docks on the south side began which will provide eventual access to the park by water. (Expected completion Fall 2025)
Blue & Green Oasis
Conserves, preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis.
70+ million
gallons of polluted stormwater from nearby N. Tamiami Trail, from east of the Trail, and from the site itself were treated in the park before flowing into Sarasota Bay every year.
24
acres of green space were meticulously maintained – including golf-course quality lawns, botanical gardens, and thousands of Florida-friendly and native trees and plants.
Good to Be Green Months (March-April ’24) celebrated environmental efforts in and around the park including National Take a Walk in the Park Day, Earth Day and Arbor Day.
A Beloved Gathering Place
Is an enlivened destination that encourages people to come together, to share with family and friends, to enjoy being with nature and to experience new and favorite activities – something for everyone to enjoy… for free.
97%
of park guests indicate they will return.
92%
of event participants rate The Bay as Excellent/ Very Good.
366
days open in 2024! Due to the park’s resilient design, The Bay remained open following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton — serving as a “respite” for the community and providing a bit of normalcy during post-storm challenging times.
14,000+
people attended Two Terrific Years at The Bay — the month-long Second Anniversary community celebration — much of which took place within 2 weeks following Hurricane Milton. FREE events included annual favorites like headliner concerts and a Boo! Halloween family gathering.
Community of Partnerships
Partnering with countless citizens, partners, foundations, businesses, government and others who contribute their time, talents, hard work and hard-earned money to help ensure the aspirations of the community are realized every day at The Bay.
In the sixth of a 15-year Long-Term Partnership Agreement, The Bay Park Conservancy and City of Sarasota Public-Private partnership helps enable financial and operational sustainability, and transparent decision making.
Steadfast support from Sarasota’s local foundations continued in 2024:
Gulf Coast Community Foundation boosted giving with a $2 million Challenge Match which was achieved through broad-range support from Friends throughout the community.
The final $1 million Challenge Match milestone from The Patterson Foundation was realized after raising a total of $20 million in private donations (enabling a total of $10 million in TPF giving).
Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation approved a $1 million grant to improve park resiliency as part of Phase 2 efforts.
The Bay Park Conservancy once again topped the Leaderboard of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s bi-annual Giving Challenge, raising $500,000 in contributions from Friends of The Bay and matches in a 24-hour period.
109 Business Partners have helped support ongoing free programming for everyone to enjoy.
A high-caliber, networked team of more than 175 consultants, contractors and partner-providers added expertise, capabilities, experience and talents to design, build, operate, maintain and program this signature public park.
57 non-profit organizations have partnered with The Bay Park Conservancy on providing free events and experiences.
Sustainable in Every Way
Great parks help make great cities. The Bay is a signature public park that is financially feasible, operationally doable, and environmentally sustainable – built and operated to last for generations to come.
2,200+
Friends of The Bay to date.
$15.9 million
in total contributions and other 2024 revenue.
100%
of Phase 2 design and development is funded — by a 50/50 City/County TIF-Backed City Bond ($48 million), Government Grants and private contributions ($17 million).
$7.6 million
2024 year-ending balance of the BPC Endowment to ensure long-term financial sustainability of the park and its operations.
Awards & Accolades
In 2024, The Bay received more recognition, including:
2024 Best Public Space (Best of SRQ Local Readers’ Competition)
2024 Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Award
2024 American Society of Landscape Architects Professional Award
2024 World Landscape Architects Award Shortlist