The Bay Sarasota receives $2 million in challenge grant

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation Board of Directors has approved a $1 million grant to match $1 million in anonymous donations to benefit The Bay park. That marks the halfway point of a challenge match by the GCCF to raise $4 million for The Bay by Dec. 31, 2024.

The funding will be used to support the design and development of a new resilient shoreline as part of Phase 2 of the city-owned 53-acre park, as well as free park programming. The Bay is being developed and operated under the stewardship of the Bay Park Conservancy in partnership with the city of Sarasota.

“We are honored that enthusiastic friends of The Bay, Gulf Coast philanthropists, chose to co-invest in this incredible opportunity for building community and continual expansion of The Bay park,” said GCCF President and CEO Phillip Lanham in a news release. “The Bay is fully aligned with Gulf Coast’s priority areas of water quality and access to green spaces.”

Since opening in October 2022, more than 400,000 people have visited The Bay and more than 50,000 have participated in free events and programs offered in the park via programming partnerships.

“This important challenge match from Gulf Coast demonstrates the importance of The Bay and its growing positive impact on the environment and on people,” said Bay Park Conservancy Founding CEO AG Lafley in the release. “Creating and providing access to more sustainable green space and more high-quality free programming enables the park to continue to be a delightful place that is open and accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of the community.”

Extending the resilient shoreline as part of Phase 2 will build on the environmental restoration efforts throughout the park, treating millions of gallons of stormwater before entering Sarasota Bay.