Have any questions for us?
To make sure your questions are answered and to keep our community consistently involved in what we do, we've created Ask The Bay. This is a forum you can visit to input questions which we will answer.
The Journey So Far
Born from a group of community stakeholders, the journey to The Bay is continuing to evolve.
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2013
Bayfront 20:20 is formed. The goal was to create consensus among community and neighborhood leaders about what the future could be for the bayfront. A vision statement was created to allow for broad community support and input: “We support the creation of a long-term master plan for the Sarasota bayfront area that will establish a cultural and economic legacy for the region while ensuring open, public access to the bayfront.”
2015
Through the outreach of Bayfront 20:20, community groups begin to sign on board for a unified common vision statement. A crucial accomplishment is the development of Implementation Guiding Principles in support of the vision. The Sarasota City Commission adopts the Guiding Principles to guide bayfront redevelopment efforts.
2016
The Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization is formed as a non-profit 501 (c)(3). Comprised of a nine-member citizen volunteer board, this group is tasked with searching for a master planning firm and presenting a vibrant and sustainable master plan for the City of Sarasota and its community that is fiscally feasible, operationally viable, and environmentally sustainable for the 42-acre Municipal Bayfront site.
2017
After an exhaustive global search, Sasaki is chosen to proceed with a master plan of The Bay. The selection occurred after an open and intensive interview process that involved 4 design and planning firm finalists shortlisted from among 22 firms who provided submissions in response to the Request for Qualification.
Now the work begins. And we invite you to keep checking back as we imagine the possibilities of The Bay.
2018
On September 6, 2018, the Sarasota City Commission approved the Master Plan developed by the SBPO and Sasaki. The SBPO will take the next steps to evolve into the permanent organization, the Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), that will partner with the City of Sarasota to develop, implement and maintain The Bay Master Plan.
2019
On January 1, 2019, The Bay evolved from a community coalition to a park conservancy, creating the Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), in order to create, co-fund, build, and operate a park for our community and our city.
