The Bay Park opens to 50,000 visitors during Grand Opening celebration

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
The Bay opened to the public in October with a 10-day Grand Opening that attracted more than 50,000 visitors.
The Bay opened to the public in October with a 10-day Grand Opening that attracted more than 50,000 visitors.

The Bay, Sarasota's new signature public park, recently opened to the public with a 10-day Grand Opening, attracting more than 50,000 visitors.

The 10 Days at The Bay included bayfront concerts featuring We The Kings, The Long Run and Etana, the inaugural Taste of The Bay food festival, and the park’s first Multicultural Festival. Everyday activities such as nature walks, kayak tours, yoga, Zumba and other fitness classes were also part of the celebration.

The Sarasota Military Academy Marching Band also performed and The Bay Park Conservancy received a Key to the City from Vice Mayor Kyle Battie.

The opening of the first phase of development, which began construction in 2019, includes more than 14 acres of revitalized greenspace, a larger-than-life Ibis playground, Common Ground lawns, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway, an outdoor Reading Room, an ADA-accessible paddle launch, restored mangroves and shorelines, and spectacular sunset views.

The Bay's Grand Opening celebration included performances by We The Kings, The Long Run and Etana and the inaugural Taste of The Bay food festival.
The Bay's Grand Opening celebration included performances by We The Kings, The Long Run and Etana and the inaugural Taste of The Bay food festival.

The final park will feature 53 acres of green space. Phase 2 construction of the park is expected to begin as early as spring 2023.

Also underway is The Bay’s annual Friend of The Bay giving campaign. The public can support the continued creation of the world class park and help The Bay to realize its vision of becoming “One Park for All.” With a grant from The Patterson Foundation, all donations are being matched.

Visit thebaysarasota.org/become-a-friend-of-the-bay to become a Friend of The Bay.

The Bay will provide a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience a wide range of recreational uses, free programs and events.
The Bay will provide a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience a wide range of recreational uses, free programs and events.

The Bay will transform the city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis, providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience a wide range of recreational uses, free programs and events. The park will cost about $150 million and will take 7-10 years, over three or more phases, to complete.

The Bay Park Conservancy was formed in 2019 to implement the master plan approved by the Sarasota City Commission. The conservancy entered a long-term partnership with the city to fund, develop, and operate the park for the benefit of the community. For more information, visit thebaysarasota.org or contact Julia Groom at julia@dreamlarge.org or 941-786-8732.

Submitted by Julia Groom

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The Bay, Sarasota's new public park, opens with 10 days of celebration