North Port survey asks residents to weigh in on future of Warm Mineral Springs

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read

NORTH PORT – It’s not a definitive city-wide referendum that some have been calling for on social media, but the city of North Port has launched an online survey where people can weigh in on whether it should partner with a private company to operate Warm Mineral Springs.

The 26-question survey is being conducted by ETC Institute, an Olathe, Kansas-based firm that specializes in governmental market research and available online at NorthPortFL.gov/WMSPsurvey.

Warm Mineral Springs reopened to the public April 7 after being closed because of damage from Hurricane Ian.

While the park was closed, the city severed ties with its longtime vendor, National and State Park Concessions and decided to reopen the historic springs site on its own.

Admission to the park at 12200 San Servando Ave. is $8 for Sarasota County residents and $11 for non-county residents – with tour buses assessed at the $11 per person non-resident rate.

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Visitors enjoy Warm Mineral Springs on April 7, the first day it reopened after Hurricane Ian.
Visitors enjoy Warm Mineral Springs on April 7, the first day it reopened after Hurricane Ian.

The 83-acre Warm Mineral Springs park includes a 21.6-acre site surrounding the springs and three buildings that date back to the Florida Quadricentennial Celebration are on the National Register of Historical Places and 61.4-acres of adjacent parkland.

Once thought to be the Fountain of Youth when it was discovered by explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, Warm Mineral Springs – an hourglass-shaped sinkhole primarily fed by an underground stream that pumps in 20 million gallons of 86 degree water per day.

Visitors, especially Eastern Europeans, believe the waters have healing properties.

The city had earmarked about $9 million to restore the three historic buildings, but after bids to perform the work came in at roughly $18 million, the commission opted to consider a private partner to complete the restoration.

Warm Mineral Springs Development Group LLC has proposed such a partnership, prompting public outcry, including during public comment and on social media for the city to put the question up for referendum.

The survey process will also include ETC Institute surveying a randomly selected sample of residents by mail.

The results will be compiled with the survey that, according to a city news release will “provide a written report of the general public and statistically valid findings, and ensure the City understands the community's needs and desires.”

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Christopher Wolski of Evans City, Penn., stretches before entering the water at Warm Mineral Springs Park on Friday.
Christopher Wolski of Evans City, Penn., stretches before entering the water at Warm Mineral Springs Park on Friday.

While not binding as a referendum would be, the survey process offers an opportunity for a more nuanced series of questions, such as:

• Whether one wants to use tax-generated revenue to pay for restoration or improvement of the park.

• Whether improvements should be paid for by a private partnership, tax supported bond issue or on a pay-as-you-go process.

• Whether the city should sell or transfer control over some or all of Warm Mineral Springs to another entity.

• What type of commercial amenities should exist at the park, such as a restaurant, spa, hotel, condominiums – or none at all.

• Whether a hotel, restaurant, spa or shopping would make the respondent visit more or less often.

• Whether they support low, medium or high intensity development at Warm Mineral Springs Park – or no development at all.

• Whether Warm Mineral Springs should be a revenue generating asset for the city of North Port.

If some of that sounds familiar, its because the city of North Port and consultant Kimley-Horn & Associate conducted a series of meetings in 2018 that resulted in the current plan that called for a low-intensity development of the park adjacent to Warm Mineral Springs.

Once the ETC Institute survey is complete, the city officials will bring it to the public at a series of community engagement meetings that will also include proposals for the next steps in the park’s future.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Warm Mineral Springs survey to gauge whether park should stay public