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NEWS RELEASE
City Hall
1565 First Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
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For Immediate Release: October 8, 2007
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Sarasota,
FL: Payne Park, the newest and largest park within the
City of Sarasota, officially opened last Saturday with
a grand celebration including a dazzling array of events
throughout the park’s 29 acres. The grand opening
was a tremendous success with an estimated 1,500 – 2,000
people enjoying the all-day festivities. “It was
an amazing event,” said Michael Raposa, the City’s
Neighborhood Partnership Office Director. “Payne
Park is a beautiful recreational area for
everyone. Many
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different
events can go on simultaneously without interfering
with each other, as we saw on Saturday,” said Raposa.
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Children
played on the great lawn and flew kites, adults listened
to live local bands while strolling through vendor’s
booths, and sporting enthusiasts of all ages enjoyed free
tennis and free skateboarding. An outdoor movie attracted
1,300 - 1, 500 viewers --- the single largest crowd for
a free “Moonlight Movie”, since the Sarasota
Film Festival began sponsoring the program in 2003. Four
additional
free “Moonlight Movie” events are scheduled
at Payne Park throughout the remainder of the year. For
more
details go to www.sarasotafilmfestival.com.
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The event was hosted
by the City of Sarasota, the Alta Vista neighborhood association,
the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations and Sarasota
County.
The $8.8 million park was funded by the penny sales tax.
Phase II of Payne Park is slated to begin within the next
few years, pending voter approval November 6th of the renewal
of the penny sales tax in Sarasota County. Phase II would
include an amphitheatre, a children’s play area as
well as a new auditorium.
Payne Park is free and open daily 5am – 11pm. It is
located at 2000 Adams Lane, just east of U.S. 301 and south
of Ringling Blvd., near the Sarasota Police Department.
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The
skate park is open daily 2pm – 7pm. Daily admission
is $5. A signed waiver from a parent or guardian and a helmet
are required to skate at the park.
For more photos: Payne
Park Grand Opening
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