GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION
SLATED FOR PAYNE PARK

Sarasota, FL - The City of Sarasota, along with the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association, invites the community to celebrate the groundbreaking for our much anticipated Payne Park. The free event will take place Sun., September 3, 2006 at 5pm just east of the Payne Park Auditorium, located at 2100 Laurel Street.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, the Alta Vista Neighborhood will host an ice cream social inside the air conditioned Payne Park Auditorium. Live entertainment will be provided until sunset, when the Sarasota Film Festival will present “Shrek 2”on a two story movie screen.

Payne Park, situated within the Alta Vista neighborhood, is designed to be a signature park for the enjoyment of residents, a place where families will picnic, youngsters will skateboard, sports enthusiasts will play tennis, and walkers and runners will enjoy a half-mile trail looping through the park.

The concept for Payne Park dates back to 2002. For the past four years, the Public Works Department has diligently studied, planned and designed a 29 acre park which will best suit the needs of the Sarasota community. In July 2006, the City Commission approved $9 million allowing Phase I of this extensive project to begin.

Two new buildings will be constructed on the northern portion of the park housing a small café, restrooms, offices and storage space. Lush landscaping will added, including 598 new trees, and 13,151 shrubs and plants. Parking is expected to be plentiful with 147 parking spaces dedicated to park users. A bus shelter will also be constructed, and bicycle racks will be located throughout the park. It will take one year to complete Phase I of Payne Park.

Families are invited to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners to the groundbreaking and enjoy this significant moment in the history of Sarasota and the Alta Vista Neighborhood. The fun and festivities will continue until 9:30pm. Should there be inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Sun., September 10th.

For more information, please contact:
Jan Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-4160
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com
or
Kelly Kirschner, Alta Vista Neighborhood Assoc. President (941) 928-9978 Kelly@deeproots.org