Frequently Asked Questions

• The Bay is located near the heart of downtown Sarasota at 1055 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236.

• The Bay is open daily from 5:00am – 11:00pm.

• Click here for a downloadable park map.

• Free parking is located around the site and all parking lots remain open — along Blvd of the Arts and in front of the Van Wezel, Municipal Auditorium and Blue Pagoda. Please avoid parking in designated Sarasota Orchestra parking areas.
• Construction of the new Town Square (located between the Municipal Auditorium and Art Center) is underway and affects pedestrian routes between the parking lot along N. Tamiami Trail and venues west of Van Wezel Way (incl. The Bay park, Van Wezel, and Holley Hall). Signs are posted to direct you between these locations. Please allow extra time to walk from and to your vehicle. Click here to view recommended pedestrian routes. Click here to learn more about Phase 2 of The Bay.
• Drop-off and 30-minute parking is located in the parking lot next to the park (1055 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236).
• Parking is also available along the street in the nearby Rosemary District (just east of N. Tamiami Trail).
• Handicapped Parking is available in the parking lot located next to the park (1055 Blvd of the Arts), on the north side of Blvd of the Arts, and in front of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Blue Pagoda (655 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236).

• The Bay is designed to be “One Park for All” and is built to full ADA compliance. The Bay is committed to providing an open and accessible, free and welcoming experience for all park guests.
• All park entrances, lawns, playgrounds, walkways and bridges are accessible. All restrooms are accessible for guests using wheelchairs – including those requiring companions.
• Handicapped Parking is available in the parking lot located next to the park (1055 Blvd of the Arts), on the north side of Blvd of the Arts, and in front of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Blue Pagoda (655 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236).
• Accessible water fountains are located next to The Nest Café.
• For guests with special dietary needs, The Nest Café offers allergy-friendly options.

• Take pressure off the environment by visiting The Bay in other ways:
  • Walk to the park.
  • Ride your bike.
    The City of Sarasota Multi-use Recreational Trail (MURT) is located on N. Tamiami Trail to the north and south of the park.
  • SCAT to The Bay.
    Nearby bus stops include: #2671 (on Blvd of the Arts), and #2672 and #1284 (on N. Tamiami Trail, just north of the park).
  • Ride Share (e.g., Uber, Lyft).
  • Arrive on a Veo scooter or bike. Veo corrals are available along Blvd of the Arts.

• The first phase of current park includes more than 10 acres of revitalized greenspace, a tree-shaded Mangrove Bayou Walkway, a larger-than-life Ibis Playground, sprawling Common Ground lawns, restored and preserved mangroves and shorelines, the architecturally stunning Nest Café, The Oval mini-amphitheater with stadium-sized LED screens, an ADA-accessible paddle launch, and spectacular sunset views. Click here to see all Park Features.
• There’s so much to enjoy at The Bay every day! Take a walk to be with nature or watch a movie under the stars. Enjoy a free concert in the park or explore Sarasota Bay in a kayak. Get your heart pumping with a free fitness class or get your feet moving at a dance party. Regardless of what interests you… every program, event and activity at The Bay is open and accessible, FREE and welcoming to all.

• Click here to view the Programs, Activities, and Guides page to learn about all of the FREE offerings at The Bay.
• Click here to view the current Calendar of FREE Events to get a glimpse of what’s happening in the park.

• The Nest Café (operated by Venice Pier Group) serves made-to-order delicious food options, as well as a variety of beverages including: gourmet Kahwa Coffee, bottled water, Coca-Cola products, cocktails, wine and beer. See The Nest Café menu here.
• Stunning public restrooms featuring piped-in music, a changing station and automatic toilets and fixtures are located next to The Nest Café.
• Picnic tables are located under a shade structure near the Ibis Playground and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• A living, Resilient Shoreline provides a front-row seat to take in a spectacular sunset over Sarasota Bay (almost) every evening.

• Yes. All pets must be non-aggressive and on a leash at all times.
• Owners are expected to pick up after their pets. Doggie waste stations are located throughout the park.

• Yes and no.
• In order to keep the park open and accessible to everyone, all spaces and places in the park that are open to the public are available on a first-come, first-served basis during park hours. The Bay does not accept reservations within the current park. In addition, a variety of free and open-to-all activities and events are scheduled in different places and spaces at The Bay which take priority and may temporarily reduce the availability of some park areas. Click here to see Calendar of Events.
• There are a number of other indoor and outdoor venues available on the site to rent including: the Municipal Auditorium, the Sarasota Garden Club, the Bayfront Community Center, the Blue Pagoda and the outdoor Civic Green lawns. To learn more or fill out a venue rental request, please visit this link.

• Yes. The Bay offers an ADA-Accessible paddle launch with direct bayou and bay access for kayakers and paddle boarders – complete with a spray station and drying rack to rinse off your vessel after an enjoyable time out on Sarasota Bay.
• Park guests may bring their own kayak or paddle board or rent on-site Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 8am to 3:30pm. For more information about Kayak Rentals, visit www.rideandpaddlethebay.com

• Yes. However, please be respectful and mindful of the safety of nearby park guests.
• For the safety of others and cleanliness of the park, please net fish elsewhere in the park other than on the Bayou Bridge.

• Yes. Coolers are welcome at The Bay. However, alcoholic beverages may not be brought onto the premises from outside of the park.

• Yes. Please take photos, and leave only footprints.
• Note: Commercial photography and professional photographers and videographers must submit a request to photograph or film at The Bay. See Sarasota County Photography & Film Permits for more information.
• Photography and video and audio recording occasionally occur in the park. By entering the park, you consent to the recording, use, release, and publication of any such photographs and video and audio recordings.

• Your safety and the safety of others is important. Please report any risky or unsafe behavior to the Sarasota Non-Emergency Police 24 hours a day (941) 316-1199.‬
• Be considerate of others. Do not engage in activities (e.g., skateboarding) that create an unreasonable risk of harm or danger to other park guests; that are inconsistent with the intended use of the park; that unreasonably interfere with the use of the park by others; or that are likely to damage personal or park property.
• Keep pets leashed and by your side at all times. Owners are expected to pick up after their pets.
• Please clean up during and at the end of your visit. Please place all litter and recycled items in appropriate receptacles located throughout the park.
• Be kind, say hello, and ride slowly as you bike throughout the park. Please walk your bike over the Bayou Bridge.
• Enjoy the playground, but please do not climb on top of Sara and Zota, the larger-than-life ibises.
• Park Guests at The Bay are subject to the rules and regulations of the City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation which prohibit:
  • Smoking of any type.
  • Alcoholic beverages brought onto the premises from outside of the park.
  • Skateboarding.
  • Electric scooters and cycles on the lawns of the park.
  • Open flames or grills.
  • Staking into the ground.
  • Signage of any kind other than those designed by and/or approved for use by The Bay Park Conservancy.
  • Commercial activity or selling goods of any kind other than those approved by The Bay Park Conservancy.

There are many ways to get involved with The Bay:

• Sign up for The Bay newsletter to stay up to date on programs, activities and events happening at the park, as well as updates about the continued transformation of parking lot into even more park.
• Attend a free event at The Bay! Click here for the full Calendar of FREE Events to learn more about what is happening at the park.
• Become a Volunteer at the park (Click here)
• Become a Friend of The Bay by making a donation today! Many ways to contribute are available (Click here)
• Become a Business Partner to support and enable FREE park programming (Click here)
• Follow The Bay (@TheBaySarasota) on Facebook and Instagram.
• Ask a question about The Bay (Click here)

• There are many opportunities at The Bay for a wide variety of services, programs and interests. If interested, please click on this link to fill out the Partner Provider Interest Form.
• If you have a Food Truck and would be interested in serving at The Bay, please fill out the Food Truck Application Form.

• In total, the completed park will cost an estimated $200 million and will take approximately 8-10 years to complete over four or more phases. Phase 1, which opened in October 2022, cost ~$35 million. Phase 2 is projected to cost $65 million – with $48 million in funding coming from a TIF-backed City of Sarasota bond, and the remaining $17 million from government grants and private sources.
• The Bay is funded through a combination of individual donor contributions, philanthropic foundations and government sources. Thanks to generous supporters, The Bay is on track to fund continued development of future park phases as well as ongoing park operations, maintenance and programming.
• Funding from private philanthropy comes from three main sources: leadership gifts and matches from individuals and foundations; the Business Partners of The Bay program which enables FREE park programming; and the annual Friends of The Bay and bi-annual Giving Challenge fundraising campaigns.
• Funding from government sources comes from: a 50/50 City/County Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District that funds capital improvements at The Bay; and a range of local, state and national government grants.
• For more information click here to see the most recent Annual Report.
• Note: the above does not include any cost estimate for a new performing arts center, which is being managed separately by the City of Sarasota and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation.

• A Master Plan is a conceptual design that shows a plan of possible uses by park guests. The original Master Plan for the 53-acre site known as The Bay was unanimously approved by the Sarasota City Commission in September 2018. An updated Master Plan reflecting additional learning and community feedback was approved by the City Commission in November 2023.
• Click here to see the current Working Master Plan of the park.

• Design and development of “more park for all” is underway. Phase 2, the next 14-acre $65 million development, continues the “ring” of green space around the site and continues converting ~1 mile of bayfront to a living, resilient shoreline. Construction should be completed by the end of 2026.
• Phase 2 projects include:
  • Cultural District: includes a tree-lined Promenade that integrates the historic buildings along the front face of the park and a new Town Square gathering place.
  • Canal District: includes dredging of toxins from the basin floor, a reconstructed seawall, the addition of a floating day dock, boat slips, and the first bayfront restaurant.
  • Resilient Shoreline: includes additional green space, walking paths and rain and stormwater ponds and the continuation of converting ~1 mile of bayfront to living, resilient shorelines.
• For more information about Phase 2 plans, click here.

• The Bay Park Conservancy is focused on planning, designing, building and managing a signature park on Sarasota Bay.
• The Bay Park Conservancy’s responsibility is to implement The Bay park in accordance with the Guiding Principles, Master Plan and the long-term Partnership Agreement which were all approved by the City of Sarasota after extensive community outreach and input.
• Any decision regarding the existing Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, or consideration of a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, is exclusively a City of Sarasota decision.

• A park conservancy is a private independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with local government and the public to conserve precious government-owned land as a public park for broad community use. Park conservancies design, plan and develop public parks, co-fund park capital projects and ongoing park operations in partnership with government agencies. In the case of The Bay, The Bay Park Conservancy manages, operates and helps maintain and program new or existing public park space once it is developed or re-developed.
• Park conservancies enter into public-private partnerships with the government to conserve and preserve public land and to provide resources (such as people/talent and funds) to accomplish specific objectives. For example, to create and/or improve public parks or to achieve goals the city or county and community want to achieve but do not have the resources to achieve on their own.

• The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC) was formed as a 501c3 not-for-profit organization in 2019 responsible for designing and implementing the Master Plan approved by the Sarasota City Commission to conserve, preserve, restore and transform 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience and enjoy a wide range of park uses, free programs and events. BPC entered into a long-term partnership with the City to serve as the exclusive design, planning and development; co-funding (primarily from private sources); and management partner of the City for The Bay park for the benefit of the community now, and for generations to come.
• While BPC is primarily responsible for design, development and management of the park, the City and BPC share responsibility for funding, infrastructure and maintenance. The City retains ultimate decision rights over a public park on city land.

• In 2019, the City of Sarasota and The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC) entered into a long-term partnership agreement. This public-private Partnership Agreement (the first of its kind in Sarasota) designates BPC as the exclusive design, planning and development; co-funding (primarily from private sources); and management partner of the City for The Bay – a new public park on 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay for the benefit of everyone in the community. The City Commission approved the long-term partnership agreement unanimously in April 2019. The agreement took effect in May 2019.
• This partnership agreement identified the roles and responsibilities of the City and The Bay Park Conservancy.
• In November 2021, the Sarasota City Commission approved the Second Amendment to the Long-Term Partnership Agreement between the City of Sarasota and The Bay Park Conservancy which enables The Bay park to be built in 10 vs. 15 years and will save at least $15-20 million in capital costs and $5-10 million in operating costs. The Second Amendment combined ALL agreements between the City and BPC into one Long-Term Partnership Agreement, including: the basic agreement, BPC Guiding Principles, the Bay Park Master Plan, the Implementation Agreement for managing the park, and the Conflict of Interest and Naming Rights Policies.

Phase 2B

From now thru Oct 2026, construction of the new Town Square within the Cultural District of The Bay is underway. The area between the Municipal Auditorium and Art Center, as well as nearby areas, will be temporarily closed.

All parking lots remain open. Pedestrian routes between the new parking lot near N. Tamiami Trail and venues west of Van Wezel Way — including The Bay park, Van Wezel, and Holley Hall — will be affected.

Please allow extra time to walk from and to your vehicle and follow the pedestrian routes on the attached map. Please avoid parking in designated Sarasota Orchestra parking areas.

Click here to see parking map for the site.

Click here to learn more about Phase 2 at The Bay.

Walkway North of 10th Street

The walkway just north of 10th Street is closed by a fence which was installed to ensure your and others’ safety during Phase 2 construction efforts in the Canal District. The park has multiple pedestrian/ bicycle routes to enable people to move safely within and across the site during the various construction phases of the park. Currently, both Van Wezel Way and the new multi-use path in front of the Blue Pagoda and Municipal Auditorium along US-41 are available to walk or bike North and South through the site.