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
