Park Projects

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Below are select Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources' Capital Improvement Projects and other projects that are currently in progress.

Learn more about these and other Projects In Your Neighborhood.

Venice Gardens Parks

Post Date:06/03/2026 7:30 AM

Project Description

Venice Gardens Park is a former utilities site which was converted to a neighborhood park for the community. The park is located in South Venice and serves a diverse population. Venice Gardens Park has a shell trail, a small pavilion and a playground that was installed in 2000. Project improvements include paved trails, installation of outdoor fitness equipment, new picnic shelters, replacing and enhancing the playground, the addition of a parking area, and accessibility improvements.

400 Shamrock Blvd, Venice 34293

Sarasota County Projects in My Neighborhood

Funded by:

Community Development Block Grant - CV

South County Park Impact Fees

Design by:

George F. Young

Contractors:

History:

Aerial of 1967 Aerial of 1995

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Updates:

May 31, 2026

Bid documents are now under review by County staff.

April 30, 2026

SWFWMD and Sarasota County Utility permits have been approved and the Engineer is now finalizing the bid documents.

March 31, 2026

The design team is currently addressing the final comments from both Stormwater and SWFWMD. We anticipate receiving the remaining permits in April.

February 28, 2026

The design team is currently addressing final comments from both Sarasota County Stormwater and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). We expect to receive the final permits in April, after which we will begin soliciting bids for construction.

January 31, 2026

The revised plans are currently under review. We expect feedback by the end of next week. Once comments are received, the project will move forward to final plans and detailed specifications in preparation for bidding.

December 31, 2026

Park's design team is finalizing revisions to the stormwater plans in preparation for the next stage of review. Once the plans are approved, we’ll move forward with securing permits and begin the process of soliciting construction contractors this spring.

November 30, 2025

On November 25, the project engineer delivered revised design plans for review. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) team has approved the updates with minor comments, allowing the Design Team to move forward with refining the landscape design. A resubmittal to the County and Stormwater & Drainage (S+D) is expected by mid-January.

Looking ahead, final plans, specifications, and permits are anticipated to be completed by spring of 2026. A construction solicitation is scheduled to begin at that time, with the construction kickoff planned for fall of 2026.

October 31, 2025

As part of our continued efforts to move the project forward, the engineer’s design contract has been officially amended to support additional work required for final plan approvals. One of the key areas of focus is the development of a revised stormwater management design, which is essential to meet regulatory requirements and secure 100% design approval from the appropriate agencies.

This updated stormwater plan is a critical component of the overall site design, ensuring that the project complies with environmental standards while also enhancing long-term sustainability and resilience.

Despite the added scope, the full design phase remains on track for completion in early 2026. Once the design is finalized and approved, the project will be ready to transition into the construction solicitation phase, where bids will be requested from qualified contractors to begin the building process.

We appreciate the community’s continued interest and support as we work through these important planning stages. More updates will be shared as we move closer to construction.

September 30, 2025

We are currently in the process of amending the design contract to include additional services required by permitting agencies. These updates are essential to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements and to support the successful advancement of the project.

Following the completion of this amendment, we will move forward with finalizing the 100% design plans. The full design phase is expected to be completed in early 2026, positioning the project for the next stages of development.

August 31, 2025

We’re in the final stretch! Our talented design team has been hard at work reviewing and refining the 90% construction plans, carefully addressing every comment and detail to ensure the project meets the highest standards of quality, functionality, and community impact.

Now, we’re gearing up for the next big milestone: the 100% design submittal. This final set of plans will represent the full vision—fully realized, fully coordinated, and ready to move into the next phase of development.

July 31, 2025

We're thrilled to announce that our collaboration with the design team is progressing smoothly! We're actively implementing exciting changes and have set clear expectations for the project timeline.

May 31, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that we have reached a significant milestone with the completion and submission of the 90% plans for site development permit review.