- April 1, 2025
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The sun appears to have set on the Bay Park Conservancy’s plans to build the Sunset Pier off the resilient shoreline in Phase 1 of The Bay park.
After 41 months of waiting, the BPC finally received word from the Army Corps of Engineers that it can build the pier, but only with significant alterations that inflated the $15 million to $17 project to $35 million.
That, BPC Founding CEO AG Lafley told members of the Bay Park Improvement Board at its March 25 meeting, prompted the organization responsible for building and maintaining the park to spend that money elsewhere as it continues construction of the second phase of the multi-phase project.
The purpose of the semi-annual meeting of the panel — which includes two Sarasota city commissioners, two county commissioners and one at-large county resident — was for the BPC to provide an update on Phase 2 progress and Phase 3 planning.
It’s only the latest in a series of adaptations the BPC has made on the fly as it works to build out the 53-acre, city-owned property into a bay front park of diverse activities — from waterfront dining to performing arts to outdoor performances to passive recreation and kayaking — all underpinned by environmental stewardship,
“One of our themes for today, is we really need to keep the momentum going,” Bay Park Conservancy CEO AG Lafley told the board, pointing to the decision to abandon the Sunset Pier as a catalyst. “One of the points of the pivot that we're recommending is this will enable us to keep the keep the momentum going and to do the right thing at the right place at the right time, and not only complete Phase 2 on schedule, but begin Phase 3 a bit ahead of schedule.”
The budget for The Bay is at $200 million, 50% paid by the city and county in equal shares via tax increment financing revenue derived from the property value improvements over 2019 assessment of property adjacent to and near the park. The other 50%, plus operations expenses, is the responsibility of the BPC via grants, philanthropy and corporate partnerships.
Responding to Army Corps of Engineers' previous guidance, the BPC had already modified the Sunset Pier plans from a circular design to a crescent in order to preserve seagrass and other environmental factors. Its final ruling, Lafley told the BPC, went much further.
“They wanted to convert it exclusively into a fishing pier, which means we have to construct it in the footprint between the seagrass, between the coral and avoiding all of the natural resources,” he said.
Additional operating costs would come in the form of monthly reporting of fish catches and more. The BPC signed conditionally signed the permit, which provides the option to move ahead anytime during the next five years.
“What we're recommending to you is we don't spend another dollar on it,” Lafley said. "Now we’ll spend the dollars on other amenities and features that are a lot more meaningful for park guests and for the community.”
That change doesn’t require a vote of the board as it does not involve additional funding, but only the reallocation of funds.
As for Phase 2 progress, much of it has been infrastructure to date, but noticeable changes will soon become evident. Workers dredged the boat basin at Centennial Park, and Lafley said that work on rehabilitating the seawalls—perhaps for the first time since their construction in the 1920s—is underway. Work continues on creating resilient shoreline between the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the 10th Street canal.
When the canal seawall work is complete, installation of a floating pier and day docks will begin, scheduled for completion in fall 2025.
Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the park — the Cultural District — work on rehabbing several historic buildings continues and, by summer, the parking strip parallel to U.S. 41 will become much greener at what Lafley called the front door to the park.
“Tens of thousands of cars go up and down there, and today it's gray and hard scape. By the end of September, we hope it will be green and tree-lined along North Tamiami Trail, tree-lined in the parking lot with a promenade that runs from north to south and a new town square.”
Work is underway on the Chidsey Library building to become the park operations center and office with the reception area opening in May. After moving the offices from the Blue Pagoda building at the south end of the park, it will become fully dedicated as the Welcome Center with rental space.
The BPC is working with the city on replacing and upgrading the roof of the Municipal Auditorium with plans for interior improvements, and the Bayfront Community Center at the rear of the auditorium will receive upgrades this summer and fall.
Construction on the Town Square open space and shade structure will begin in summer 2026.
The Phase 2 budget is $65 million, which Lafley said is on time and on budget, and the BPC intends to stay within the $200 million projected for the total park project. Ultimately, that includes converting the Van Wezel parking lot into green space with parking underneath.
“When we started out, we thought we could build the park for $100 million to $150 million,” Lafley said. “Over eight years, looking at actual construction and inflation, it takes us well above $200 million, but we still think we can get it done for $200 million or less. That’s our commitment.
"I think we'll get there if we can get it done in the next six to eight years."
