Local news- Press Release
Sarasota Police Florida - Bayfront Park playground and splash pad grand reopening set for Feb 1 25 January 2024 ( news )
Sarasota Police , state Florida ( By Press Release office)
Jan 25,2024
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Media contact:
Eyrelin Laviolette , Communications Assistant |
Eyrelin . Laviolette@sarasotafl . gov
Sarasota , FL: The Bayfront Park playground and splash pad grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Thursday , Feb . 1 , at 10 a . m . at Bayfront Park , 5 Bayfront Dr .
The public is invited to the ribbon cutting celebration of the newly renovated shipwreck - themed playground and splash pad . For the first 150 attendees , there will be a free gold doubloon to commemorate the occasion .
The playground and splash pad have new features and amenities , such as new climbing structures , plenty of seating areas and large sails which offer shade . The new splash pad system allows children to control the flow of water instead of having a continuous flow like before . The original concrete animal sculptures from the previous Steigerwaldt - Jockey Children’s Fountain have been placed in the new landscaping after being restored by the artist .
The playground and splash pad areas are ADA - compatible following the City’s ADA plan to update accessibility in City - owned spaces . Therefore , the new design raised the splash pad up by about seven feet to be level with the playground . This allows the playground and splash pad to become one entity instead of two separate ones like previously designed .
As conceptualized and overseen by the Parks and Recreation Department , the restoration process started in Oct . 2020 . The splash pad required a full renovation due to the Children’s Fountain needing increased maintenance and the cost of repair outweighing the lifespan .
Hours of operation at the facilities will be:
Playground: 9 a . m . – 11 p . m .
Splash Pad: 9 a . m . – dusk
The project had a final budget of $3 . 3 million , with the majority being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and the remaining balance coming from Penny Surtax III .
For more information , contact Landscape Operations Manager , John Kretzer , via email:
John . Kretzer@sarasotaFL . gov
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About the City of Sarasota:
Distinguished by U . S . News and World Report as the No . 5 Best Place to Live in the U . S . and the top place in Florida , the City of Sarasota is a diverse and inclusive community located on Florida’s Suncoast with 55 , 000 year - round residents , several internationally recognized cultural arts venues , stunning sunsets along Lido Beach , newly restored Donald Ross - designed municipal golf course , and Major League spring training baseball with the Baltimore Orioles . Learn more about us at
www . SarasotaFL . Gov
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