Manatee County serves its youth with parks upgrades

When catering to the recreational needs of a community, Manatee County has a lot to consider.

According to the 2020 data compiled by the United States Census Bureau, 29 percent of the population is 65-years-old and older, 17.2 percent is under 18-years-old, and the remaining 53.8 percent are somewhere in the middle.

Add those varying degrees of ages to the vast access to outdoor recreation made possible by the year-round warm weather of Florida, and the possibilities are nearly endless.

So how does Manatee County figure out where to best invest its resources?

Serving the youth

“We’ve seen an increase in the youth and families moving to the area,” said Manatee County Sports and Leisure Services Director Molly Knight. “It’s a growing thing, and we want to make sure that we serve those people, as well as (providing) adult amenities."

Knight also said the county experienced a wave of younger families moving to the area during COVID-19, which means the youth population now is likely higher than what’s reflected in the 2020 census data.

That’s made serving the youth's recreational and athletic needs a main focus for the county.

“We’re pushing a lot of projects forward because we don’t want kids to be left out and to have to travel to Sarasota or Tampa,” Knight said. 

East Bradenton Park is receiving a facelift with a new splash pad and athletic field. Little League fields are being added to County Club East Park.

And a $22.6 million renovation to John H. Marble Park is scheduled to be completed by June. 

The bulk of the John H. Marble Park renovation is a 27,000-square-foot recreation center that includes a gymnasium, fitness center and multipurpose rooms, along with a new pool and a splash pad. 

That means summer camps and youth basketball leagues will have a new home in east Manatee County. 

“There aren’t as many gathering places in this part of the county, and we’re extremely excited about prioritizing youth,” said Manatee County District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard.

Knight said the hope is that adding recreation options for the younger demographic will benefit the community in a multitude of ways. 

As youth sports have evolved, Knight said that families are now seeking recreational and sports activities to keep their kids busy while they are on vacation. That makes Manatee County more attractive as a vacation destination.

It’s not as if the younger demographic is the sole focus, however. 

Identifying what's popular

Knight said the county tracks statewide and nationwide trends from organizations such as the Florida Recreation and Park Association and the National Recreation and Parks Association. 

Pickleball has been one of the hottest trends in outdoor recreation with participation growing 223.5 percent since 2020, according to USA Pickleball.

Baseball, softball, soccer, tennis and lacrosse remain popular sports in the county, Knight said, which makes multi-purpose fields a smart choice for many parks. 

Photo by Vinnie Portell

One sport that might soon join those ranks of go-to activities is beach volleyball.

The Florida High School Athletic Association sanctioned girls beach volleyball as a recognized sport beginning in the 2021-22 school year.

While there were already some sand courts available at Tom Bennett Park, Knight said the county is looking to expand its offering there within the next couple of years.

Sand volleyball courts already have been added to Blackstone Park and GT Bray Park to give teams — and local residents — practice options away from the beach.

Another project in the works is the $44.2 million Athletics and Aquatics Center at Premier Sports Campus North. 

Groundbreaking will be held Jan. 30, with the project targeted for completion in the summer of 2026. 

There are 24 pickleball courts (14 covered) planned for the facility, along with a 50-meter competition-sized pool and a therapy pool. 

When the county invests so heavily in its parks and programs, it considers the future as well, in case the community's interests change.

Take, for instance, pickleball. If interest does wane in the future, the surface is multi-purpose, which allows it to be converted into tennis courts, basketball courts, or other sports that may spring into popularity. 

“(Needs) have been across the board, quite honestly, which has kind of pushed us to be more creative in our use of multi-purpose fields so that people can play more than one sport,” Knight said. “We’ve opened the scope in that way to meet the demands.”