Nathan Benderson Park exec says local rowing/paddling talent will surface

After competing in a 200-meter Masters B canoe race at Nathan Benderson Park Aug. 4, Lakewood Ranch's Adrian Olivo pulled up to the shore with that "I'm glad I did it, but I am glad it's over" smile.

Olivo was competing in the ACA Sprint Canoe National Championships that was held at the park from Aug. 1-4. The event, which did indeed match the nation's top canoe and kayak racers, also had plenty of age and talent classes to attract those who just like the feel of competition.

The Masters B class offered the 46-year-old Olivo the chance to get back into competition after being idle since he graduated from high school.

Sure, he had paddled in some fun events, but nothing governed by the American Canoe Association. He would be the first to admit that he generally was overmatched by those in his age group who put a lot of effort into training.

Nevertheless, he had a great time, both competing and filling a volunteer role as a safety boat driver during the competition.

He also admitted that he never would have brought his We-no-nah canoe out of mothballs (he raced in it as a teen) if this competition wasn't smacking him right in the face near his home.

You would think others in Manatee and Sarasota counties would feel the same way. But when I contacted the American Canoe Association, Olivo was the only entrant they told me was local.

Paddling and rowing events aren't exactly mainstream sports, but when Sarasota County blessed Nathan Benderson Park with $30 million to shape the park in 2011, and committed to another $20 million for future upgrades, you would have figured 3-year-olds in the area would be finding paddles under the Christmas tree.

When an area can claim to have the best facility of whatever sport in North America, you would think the interest in that area would reverberate through the community.

Has that happened here? 

Bruce Patneaude, the chief operating officer at the park and the No. 1 man since being named in February, said it has, and to just be patient. He said it is going to show itself.

He said the local rowing teams are developing plenty of talent, but it might not be apparent every year at this juncture of the sport blossoming in Sarasota. It takes time to build depth in those programs.

Dragon boat racing in Sarasota is growing in leaps and bounds and Nathan Benderson Park's teams have landed 10 paddlers on the current U.S. National team.

Canoeing and kayaking, however, are another story. Patneaude said those sports are more popular in Europe.

"There is just not a big U.S. footprint for those sports," he said. "U.S. rowing has a leg up in colleges."

Nonetheless, Patneaude said Nathan Benderson Park will continue to attract world-class events in both paddling and rowing. He noted that the park's "Learn to Row" camps are packed. The wave is building.

If the park hasn't done a great job of tooting its horn lately, Patneaude said that is about to change. A major turnover of his staff is just being completed, including the addition of a new public relations manager who will start next week.

Sarasota residents, whose taxes pay for Nathan Benderson Park, could be forgiven if they have been anxious to find out the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy's goals for the future. It's been very quiet lately, and the park doesn't have a good track record for keeping its leaders.

Since 2016, SANCA, which is now the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy, has had leaders (CEOs or COOs) in Paul Blakketter, Robert Sullivan, Stephen Rodriguez, Michael Taaffe and now Patneaude.

Blakketter and Rodriguez were key figures in not only building one of the best rowing/paddling facilities in the world — Rowing News Magazine crowned Nathan Benderson Park the No. 1 rowing facility in North America in March — but forming bonds with international rowing/paddling competitions to keep a steady stream of big events coming.

Patneaude said those events will keep coming, but he has been dealing with some other major issues since starting in February. The park needed more than $3 million in repairs following Hurricane Ian, along with the aforementioned staff turnover.

He also has been putting together the park's plan for a $40 million, two-story, boathouse and events center. The top floor of the 100,000-square-foot facility could host events such as basketball, pickleball and volleyball. The bottom floor would be a boathouse which Patneaude said shows the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy's commitment to its aquatics programs.

A presentation on the facility will be made to the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy in September, and eventually will move to the Sarasota County Commission.

The county approved $20 million of support for the project in May 2022, with the requirement that Nathan Benderson Park could raise the remaining funds.

So Patneaude said all is well at the park, even if those in the area don't particularly want to race in a canoe.

For the record, Olivo finished third in the Masters B 200 meters on Aug. 4, but he was more interested in his time than place.

"I wanted to break a minute," he said after the race, still not knowing if he had accomplished it.

Indeed, his time was recorded at 57.911. That was a solid showing, especially considering all the high tech advancements in racing canoes meant he was competing in somewhat of a jalopy.

"I know I do better when I have a goal," he said.

Although he said he won't travel long distances to compete in the future, his competitive drive has been slightly ignited by the week's competition. He said he now is looking for events close to home.

Olivo works for Florida Blue in national account sales. He and his wife Stephanie have two daughters, 10-year-old Kaitlyn and 7-year-old Harper.

"I am thinking already about what's the next one," he said.

That next one might well be at Nathan Benderson Park.