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Upcoming Events
2nd Annual Sarasota Marathon, March 4, 2007 The2nd Sarasota Marathon will start and finish at the historic and cultural John and Mable Ringling Museum. The out and back course will run along some of the Scenic Highway’s most popular attractions: the Ringling Museum, the Indian Beach Neighborhood, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, St. Armand's Circle, Mote Marine Laboratory & City Island, Lido Beach, Bayfront Park & Marina, Selby Gardens and Southside Village. www.sarasotamarathon.com
Tour of Historic Homes, March 4, 2007 Six restored historic homes along South Tamiami Trail will be showcased in this event benefiting the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, advocates for the preservation of Tamiami Trail’s cultural heritage. www.historicsarasota.org
City Hall at the Market, March 10, 2007 Meet with City Commissioners and learn more about your City government! City employees from various departments will have information and giveaways on State Street during the weekly Farmer’s Market from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 17, 2007 The City’s St. Patrick’s day parade on Saturday morning down Main Street will include floats, bands and marchers.
Downtown Arts and Crafts Show, March 24-25 Sarasota Film Festival, March 31-April 9 www.sarasotafilmfestival.com The 26th Jazz Festival of Sarasota April 2-9 Florida Wine Fest and Auction April 27-30 |
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Crime Initiative
We have been fortunate to have Sen. Victor Crist sponsor our Crime Initiative in 2007. The task of finding a House sponsor is still underway, with Representatives Galvano and McKeel offering to be Co-sponsors. We urge you to write to your legislators, telling them of the importance of the initiative to you and your communities and asking them to sponsor the Bill.
If you wish, send your letters to Committee/Taskforce Chairman Hugo Mazzoli, we will see they reach the Legislators. Send them to hugo.mazzoli@floridamoves.com.
To date, we have received the endorsement of a number of impressive government agencies and statewide organizations. We thank them for the interest and support. These organizations include:
The need to complement the penalty needs with the need for rehabilitation efforts is still the main objective of this plan. We have experienced difficulty in getting information to be able to develop a road map for “next steps”. Nonetheless, we are pursuing rehab opportunities and ideas and will do what we can to deliver on the commitments we made to our supporters including the Sarasota Herald Tribune who covered our efforts in an Editorial.
Rehab programs exist and are funded. Those opposing this Initiative prefer to design and fund the perfect rehab program while the risk to communities grows and law enforcement is at a loss to deal effectively with the problem. Many still see prostitution as a victimless crime. Tell that to the families of these women, the and the johns who return to their wives and girl friends after having had intimate contact with these women.
Schools, teachers, parents…Remember the change in the sentencing law we are pursuing will help protect our children and residential communities by imposing a 1000’ distance requirement from day care facilities, public or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools, physical places of worship, state, county or municipal parks, community centers, or a publicly owned recreational facilities.
Don’t let legislators miss the opportunity to make a major, positive impact on our neighborhoods. Let you local County officials know how important the initiative is to you. |
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Report on Third Anniversary Celebration
The Tamiami Trail (US41) from the Manatee/Hillsboro County line to the Sarasota– Charlotte County line was designated as a Florida State Scenic Highway on December 13, 2003. This designation benefits residents of Sarasota— Manatee by allowing them to create their own visions for future improvements along the Tamiami Trail corridor in cooperation with the governmental agencies in these areas. The designation also presented opportunities for the pursuit of grants and partnership arrangements to implement those visions. To recognize and celebrate the third anniversary of he designation and to acknowledge some achievements and to review plans for the future, a celebration was held at the Crosley Museum. The event was attended by County and City Commissioners, representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation ( who oversees the program statewide), community groups and others. To round off the speeches and proclamations that were presented, guests were able to view a number of antique automobiles provided by the Historic Society of Sarasota County.
The 2008 State Conference at which all Scenic Highway Committees meet to discuss their plans and achievements and generally share information on grants and program opportunities is scheduled to take place in Sarasota. |
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Enhanced Sidewalk Concept Plan The Enhanced Sidewalk Concept (also referred to as the “Ped-Bike Way” Concept) will be presented by Thorning Little, AIA, to the City Commission on March 5th. Thorning’s concept plan came about as part of our Committee’s desire to develop and incorporate physical changes to sidewalk designs that would improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The plan addresses the current placement of light poles near the center of sidewalks, bump-outs into the main roadway, sidewalk width, landscaping and a facilitated process for easements which encourages landowners to provide voluntary easements to accommodate a ten (10) foot wide sidewalk. The Plan includes identifying a strip several block long along Tamiami Trail that, due to the extent of possible development, would lend itself as a test site for the new concept. Several land owners along the test strip have already indicated support for the plan. This is admittedly one possible concept that can be used to provide a safe, aesthetically pleasing facility for pedestrians and cyclists to share one common path. The method of obtaining easements, the ability to add to exiting sidewalks without incurring the expense of removing existing and replacing with all new walks are among the main differences with other plans. We hope to obtain City Commissioner’s approval to proceed with the planning and obtain funding to cover expenses associated with the test strip.
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The “Official Visitor Center of Sarasota County” Moves into Chidsey Building To Share Space With History Center Exhibits The Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) has proudly called “The Pagoda” located at 655 North Tamiami Trail, home of it’s “Official Visitor Center of Sarasota County” since it’s inception 25 years ago. In the past few years the information on our areas amenities, such as accommodations, attractions, and cultural offerings has simply outgrown their humble home and the visitor center will be moving into the Chidsey Building next door. Beginning January 17th, the new Official Visitor Center of Sarasota County will be located at 701 Tamiami Trail, in the Chidsey Building, which the Sarasota County History Center has called home since 1976. While the administrative staff of the History Center has moved to a new office location at 6062 Porter Way, Sarasota, some of the exhibits of the History Center will remain in the Chidsey Building so that they can share space with the new “Official Visitor Center of Sarasota County.” The Management of the Visitor Center falls under the responsibility of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau. There is two staff, who oversee the day to day operations of the center, and the 40 plus volunteers that work the front of the house, answering phones and providing information to the visitors. “While it is sad to leave “The Pagoda” after many successful years of providing vital information to our visitors,” said Virginia Haley, President, Sarasota Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “we feel this move will greatly enhance our ability to expand and enhance the overall visitor experience. Our partnership with the History Center makes the move all the more exciting. The ability to offer our visitors a look at our community’s past – will enhance their appreciation of our fabulous destination.” Dave Baber, Sarasota County History Center general manager, added, “This is a win-win for the Visitor Center, the SCVB and for the Sarasota County History Center. The public will have a chance to see permanent as well as changing historical exhibits, while the collection of irreplaceable artifacts that had been in storage at the Chidsey Building has been moved to our new location much farther inland on Porter Way to protect it from storms.” The Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau leads and supports the tourism industry in Sarasota County by providing the highest quality, and most innovative, marketing programs and promotions to ensure the continued growth of tourism and travel from visitors around the world. For more information, contact Erin M. Duggan at (941) 955-0991, ext. #108, or eduggan@sarasotafl.org. For more information about Sarasota County History Center exhibits at the Chidsey Building and its offices and research services on Porter Way, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at (941) 861-5000. |
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Neighborhoods Along the Scenic Highway Sarasota has more than forty neighborhood associations recognized as active organizations by the City’s Neighborhood Partnership office. In North Sarasota, four historic neighborhoods line the city portion of the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway. Indian Beach - Sapphire Shores is a large neighborhood that lies between the Trail and Sarasota Bay and north of Whitaker Bayou to the city limit. Tree canopied streets, historic homes and multiple public access points hallmark this eclectic neighborhood. A small neighborhood lies just to the south of Whitaker Bayou. The Tahiti Park Neighborhood was platted in the 50's and has some of the most beautiful tree canopy and lush vegetation found in Sarasota. Sarasota’s first settlers made their home near the bay in this part of the city. On the east side of the Trail and north of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Way, is the Bayou Oaks neighborhood. This was the home for Sarasota’s original artisans and working class citizens. Today it retains this charm and has a very high number of large oaks lining many of the neighborhood streets. Just south of Bayou Oaks is the Central Cocoanut neighborhood. This area has one of the largest concentration of historic homes in Sarasota. Recently this was recognized through National Historic Registration. Also in Central Cocoanut is Pioneer Park and the Whitaker Cemetery - the final resting place for the original pioneer family. Take a little side trip when you are motoring along the northern part of Sarasota’s Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway. You will discover history, scenic views and wonderful, shaded canopy neighborhoods. |
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Check Out our Web Site Want to learn more about the City of Sarasota Scenic Highway Committee and ways that we are attempting to preserve, protect and enhance Sarasota’s historic Tamiami Trail? Visit our web site at
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Why Not Join Us? Do you represent a business or community group? Would you like to help enhance the aesthetic beauty and cultural attractions of Tamiami Trail as it runs through Sarasota? Are you interested in bicycle and pedestrian safety? Do you want our community to be a great place to live? Call the City of Sarasota Engineering Department at (941) 954-4180 for information on the location of our next meeting. Our regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month from 10:00 a.m.—noon. |
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Our Mission Established in January 2004, the City of Sarasota Scenic Highway Committee is a partnership between public and private entities to identify and promote opportunities for beautification, cultural and historic preservation, safety enhancement, economic development, and pedestrian and recreational use along the Tamiami Trail as it extends through the City of Sarasota. For more information, contact Committee Chair Hugo Mazzoli at (941) 266-9664 or call the City of Sarasota Engineering Department at (941) 954-4180. |
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Contact Information To find out more about what’s happening with the City of Sarasota Scenic Highway Committee, visit our web site at scenichighway.sarasotagov.com or call the City of Sarasota Engineering Department at (941) 954-4180. |
