- July 11, 2025
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Longboat Key residents know Susan Phillips has a passion for uplifting the art community, particularly through her promotion of new "Arts in April" programs. But that enthusiasm for supporting creatives extends to her home as well, where she proudly displays a collection of paintings and photos largely centered around the landscapes and wildlife of the Key.
Phillips recently announced her retirement as the town manager's assistant, and as a farewell present, local artist Lynn Wellings gave her a shore side painting that shows the idyllic, relaxing side of Longboat Key's natural beauty.
Even though Phillips retired from working with the town at the end of March, she has kept plenty busy.
Her dedication to celebrating the Key's history and future runs deep, and the community is recognizing that hard work by naming her the 2025 parade marshal for Freedom Fest.
This is her second stint leading the parade, which she first did in 2018.
She has been involved with some of the most significant projects on the Key, including the recent "Complete the Green" initiative to build a new community hall at Town Center Green.
"I did go to the county commission meeting where they finally approved moving ahead with the project," Phillips said. "After watching this project in different iterations over 25 years and being involved with all of them, finally seeing them say 'Go build it' meant a lot. I had to be there to see it."
She added, "I'm very proud of any part I played in making that happen."
Both the groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be something to see, Phillips said, adding, "I'll be front and center, watching it all come together." The groundbreaking is slated for early next year, and she's optimistic it could be done by 2028 if all goes well.
Projects like this build a stronger community, not just in the short term, but for many years to come, Phillips said. She moved to the Key in 1998, and she has watched the island evolve since then.
"When I first moved here, there was the little post office on the north end, the original Publix on the island, and three gas stations," she said.
"It's been crazy seeing the metamorphosis of the island over time, especially places like Bayfront Park," she added.
The opening of the Karon Family Pavilion stands out in her mind as a key moment in the community's development.
"The Sarasota Orchestra, for their 75th anniversary, played a medley of all the military songs they know," she reminisced. "The ribbon cutting was so special, knowing this was such a gathering place for the community."
In April, the pavilion hosted the first Comedy Night fundraiser as part of Arts in April, which thrilled Phillips by attendees' feedback on it.
"I got nothing but good comments," she said, adding they'll make minor adjustments to make it even better next year, like shortening the "Artists in the Garden" segment to make the days its on more spectacular.
The Longboat Key Garden Club organized Arts in April as a large-scale fundraiser to support beautification projects aimed at rebuilding from last year's hurricanes.
Phillips is the former president of the garden club, and she has been joining volunteers in recent weeks to help replant Bicentennial Park, where Freedom Fest takes place every year.
Volunteers have lent a hand with completely reworking the Butterfly Garden run by the garden club, and Phillips has been there pretty much every day to help. She said to keep an eye out for little touches like newly planted orchids and additions to the succulent gardens.
She loves how the firecracker hedges and sea ox-eye daisies are shaping up.
She said work is progressing well, and while some of the plants will need a bit of time to grow in, she is pleased at the difference the club has already made in the park.
"They say 'blessed are those who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit,' especially with projects like the library and terrace. But I told them, no, I'm going to be sitting under that, and I'm looking forward to enjoying that part," Phillips said with a chuckle.
Looking back at those community projects and ahead to the construction of a new library on Longboat Key, Phillips shared her gratitude for everyone who has supported them financially and by enthusiastically spreading the word to others.
"It motivates other people to see this is a project the town needs," she said. "The library will be such a gathering place, and such an anchor for events. Everything will be free. Think about how much that means to so many people. There are people who moved here, having lived longer than they thought they would, and their lifestyle has completely changed from what they anticipated. This is a place where they can enjoy other people and socialize. You have an avenue to make a whole new set of friends."
Some things may ebb and flow, like the popularity of softball versus pickleball, but she said the heart of the community and strong ties among residents remain the same.
Phillips said she is humbled to once again hold the title of grand marshal. She said the recognition brings back warm memories of celebrating a fellow grand marshal, the late Lisa Walsh.
Walsh, former executive editor and co-owner of the Longboat Observer, was a co-founder of Freedom Fest.
Phillips looks forward to celebrating those who have worked to give citizens the freedoms they enjoy today, particularly those in the armed forces. She said this fest will be particularly meaningful as everyone comes together for a bit of community fun after working so hard at the beginning of the year to rebuild from the storms.
"Everybody has their own personal form of patriotism, and none of them are wrong," she said. "Coming together as a community to celebrate, especially with our different backgrounds and experiences in life and over the last year, means a lot."
As part of the celebration, the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce advises community members to keep an eye out for local businesses that will be giving out flags. The chamber will announce the full list of locations before the 4th.
