CEO of nonprofit behind The Bay project in Sarasota steps down after 4 months

Derek Gilliam, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read

The founding chief executive of the nonprofit organization that manages the design and multimillion-dollar transformation of 53 acres of downtown bayfront property into a world-class park is back in charge of the effort after one of its top leaders stepped down, according to a news release. The change in leadership is effective immediately.

Stephanie Crockatt had replaced the Bay Park Conservancy founding CEO AG Lafley in March as the nonprofit's chief executive and president. She had previously overseen the operation of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit that manages an urban park system in Buffalo, New York.

The Bay Park Conservancy has partnered with the city of Sarasota to design and develop The Bay Park, while also maintaining and offering programing at the park as it opens to the public. The conservancy recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of opening of phase one that focused on about 10 acres of the project just south of the Van Wezel.

AG Lafley is founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. "I believe we delivered on the main objective, which was creating, designing, building, and most importantly, activating and programming one park for all."
AG Lafley is founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. "I believe we delivered on the main objective, which was creating, designing, building, and most importantly, activating and programming one park for all."

The news release said Crockatt "had stepped down to pursue other opportunities."

The news release does not describe the opportunities she will be pursuing. Crockatt said in the news release that The Bay Park will continue to thrive under current leadership.

“I appreciate Stephanie’s efforts and wish her the best in her next endeavor," Jennifer Compton, BPC Board Chair said. "The Board is confident that AG will pick up where he left off and progress the park and Conservancy’s plans and priorities."

Stepping away before returning to take back over is something Lafley has done in the past. He previously served as the CEO at Cincinnati-based Proctor & Gamble from 2000 to 2010 and 2013 to 2015. He indicated in the news release he planned to pick up where he left the organization last spring.

Lafley served as volunteer chair of the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization master planning committee (SBPO), and then as volunteer BPC Founding CEO between December 2019 and May 2023, according to the news release.

“I am proud of what the BPC has accomplished thus far to create this signature ‘one park for all,'" he said. "Working with the many partners and the BPC team to build on this momentum, I fully expect we will continue delighting park guests who visit the current park; make The Bay Park Conservancy sustainable in every way – financially, operationally and environmentally; and build ‘more park for all’ with phase two and beyond.”

Phase two will see the Bay Park Conservancy design and develop 14 acres of the project.

"Phase 2 includes a revitalized Cultural District along Tamiami Trail, an extended resilient shoreline along Sarasota Bay, a magnificent Sunset Pier and the addition of day docks north of 10th Street," the news release stated. "Phase 2 capital improvements are fully funded through a $48 million Tax Increment Funded (TIF)-backed bond and other government grants."

Previous coverage: The Bay Park could be defining feature of Sarasota when complete, first phase moving along

More: As first anniversary nears, Sarasota's Bay Park leaders talk about past, present, and future

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: AG Lafley back in as The Bay Park Conservancy's chief executive