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PAYNE PARK
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Payne Park, right in Alta Vista neighborhood's "backyard," is kind-of-sort-of a popular "Central Park" of Sarasota.
Payne Park features lots of open space, a 1/2-mile walking track, disc golf course, skate park, the circus-themed kids' playground, and Tennis Center with the Court Thirteen bar/cafe. The Legacy Trail now begins (ends?) by Payne Park. Dog walking (on-leash, no dog park here) is another predominant use. The above graphic is from the 2003 master plan (some things have changed).
Payne Park city web page And/or, see www.letsplaysarasota.com for other Sarasota parks.
Payne Park features lots of open space, a 1/2-mile walking track, disc golf course, skate park, the circus-themed kids' playground, and Tennis Center with the Court Thirteen bar/cafe. The Legacy Trail now begins (ends?) by Payne Park. Dog walking (on-leash, no dog park here) is another predominant use. The above graphic is from the 2003 master plan (some things have changed).
Payne Park city web page And/or, see www.letsplaysarasota.com for other Sarasota parks.
An updated Master Plan specifically for Payne Park, along the lines of that from 2003, hasn't been done yet, but many planning details are in the City's Parks and Public Realm 2019 10-year "master plan" report, in backup document* from June 3, 2019 City Commission meeting, starting p 158 of 460. (see also A.B.Smith park, that little adjoining bit of park, page 116 of 460.)
For some interesting history about the park, see "A Little History" page.
For some interesting history about the park, see "A Little History" page.
Payne Park Tennis Center
In 2022, PPTC first hosted the Sarasota Open, a US Tennis Assn Challenge pro tournament. MUSCO Sports Lighting installed all new lighting, up against tournament deadline, required for televised matches as well as adjustable for regular nighttime play (plus way more energy efficient), in conjunction with the contract that the City had signed with USTA for $1/year, at a cost of $535,000 to the City. Lighting replacement (old lights dated from 1992) had been scheduled anyhow, at approximately half that cost, in the year 2024. This was approved at the very end of a very long City Commission Special Meeting dedicated to discussion of the Bobby Jones Golf Course renovations, 1/10/2022.
Tennis Center Fence Replacement Project April 15 - June 2024. Almost half a million bucks budgeted! For budget approval details see Oct 16 2023 City Commission Meeting, Consent Agenda Item VI-3. To see PPTC March 2024 newsletter, see PREP meeting agendas page, click on agenda item 9a = Newsletter.
In 2022, PPTC first hosted the Sarasota Open, a US Tennis Assn Challenge pro tournament. MUSCO Sports Lighting installed all new lighting, up against tournament deadline, required for televised matches as well as adjustable for regular nighttime play (plus way more energy efficient), in conjunction with the contract that the City had signed with USTA for $1/year, at a cost of $535,000 to the City. Lighting replacement (old lights dated from 1992) had been scheduled anyhow, at approximately half that cost, in the year 2024. This was approved at the very end of a very long City Commission Special Meeting dedicated to discussion of the Bobby Jones Golf Course renovations, 1/10/2022.
Tennis Center Fence Replacement Project April 15 - June 2024. Almost half a million bucks budgeted! For budget approval details see Oct 16 2023 City Commission Meeting, Consent Agenda Item VI-3. To see PPTC March 2024 newsletter, see PREP meeting agendas page, click on agenda item 9a = Newsletter.
Payne Park future development? See Payne Park New Developments page.
We have had a number of "threats" to Payne Park in the 2020's, of proposals to repurpose portions of the park for 1) a new music center for Sarasota Orchestra, and 2) a truck depot and materials storage facility for Parks & Rec. (The vintage Payne Park auditorium is no longer open for event rentals; it serves as offices for part of the Parks & Rec Department.) Both those uses were controversial, with resident opposition as well as support, and neither came to pass. See "Old Posts" pages for details about each issue.
Herbicide Use: In 2020, if you had noticed a few small areas in the shell border along School Ave marked off with caution tape, those were test plots where they were trying out alternative (herbicide) products for cost/efficacy. ?No more Roundup? Actually, the City finally decided to replace Roundup use with: CheetahPro, an alarmingly close toxic relative of Roundup. A group called Non Toxic Sarasota presented comments, again, at the May 3 2021 City Commission meeting, continuing the quest to transition the City from spraying toxic pesticides and herbicides in City parks and other lands that are used by humans and other animals.
Payne Park Water Feature by Cafe in the Park, gone. After having been vandalized yet again -- Yet Again! -- right after the City spent nearly $30k to totally redo it, then sitting derelict for yet another year, the old water feature has finally been filled in and landscaped.
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Historical highlight: Look here, have a gander at how Payne Park has changed over the decades!
