The Bay Sarasota updates Phase 1 proposal

The Bay Sarasota has once again refined its proposal for the first 10-acre phase of a planned public park on the waterfront.

On Aug. 21, The Bay held a pair of community workshops to share the latest vision for Phase 1 of the park. The Bay is working with the city on the redevelopment of more than 50 city-owned acres surrounding the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

The major changes are a response to public feedback regarding the previous version of the proposal, which The Bay revealed earlier this summer. The design of an arc-shaped pier and a natural shoreline on the west end of the property has been refined. The configuration of Boulevard of the Arts has been adjusted to retain a median and existing trees.

The planning group has shrunk the size of an open lawn and reoriented a food and beverage area, so it faces the bayfront, rather than running along Boulevard of the Arts.

Bill Waddill, The Bay’s chief implementation officer, said the group has largely received positive feedback to the new proposal. The Bay intends to present its plans to the City Commission for approval in September.