SANCA board discusses capital improvements including donated playground
UNIVERSITY PARK -- The Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center board has asked the state Legislature for $11 million for improvements to Nathan Benderson Park this year, but the state Senate has just $2 million included in its budget.
At its meeting Wednesday, the board talked about the capital improvements it has planned and how they are designed to draw more people to the park.
"Things are in good nature in Tallahassee and you don't know until you know, but we are in the budget and it can go up or it can go down," board president Paul Blackketter said. The Nathan Benderson Park Foundation will match the funds provided by the state, meaning a $2 million commitment from the state equals $4 million in SANCA's budget -- far less than they hoped for.
The board has a list of priorities to tackle, Blackketter said. Board Chairman Bill Robinson said, they learned a lot from beginning to build and pay for the park's finish tower. The tower should be completed in the fall, Blackketter said, and there's a "glimmer" of hope a boathouse could be done in time for the 2017 World Rowing Championship.
Other capital improvements include park restrooms, which are expected to open March 15. The board still hopes to see the boathouse completed before the World Rowing Championship, but without state funding that project is up in the air.
The Nathan Benderson Community Park Foundation donated money for a playground in the park's event garden. The first phase is expected to cost less than $200,000. The foundation is expected to install the playground, which will include swings, a jungle gym and slides. Blackketter estimated as the park proceeds from the first phase, the cost will exceed $200,000. The board agreed to gather information on the pledge agreement for the playground before approving it.
Nicole Rissler, chief operating officer of SANCA, said the staff has begun a "soft launch" of the park's new logo, made up of two portions; one to represent a leaf and one to represent water. The logo also includes "NBP" in bold letters, to ensure the park is known as Nathan Benderson Park, instead of under the World Class Rowing banner as it was formerly presented. Sarasota County officials are working on obtaining a trademark for the logo, Rissler said.
The park's web address has shifted from worldclassrowing.org to nathanbendersonpark.org, though Rissler said they'll still use the former when specifically discussing rowing events. Both addresses lead to the same website. The SANCA board reviewed a social media strategy designed to lead community members and rowing fans to the newly branded website.
Two community events are scheduled next month. On March 5, the park will host its first family friendly movie screening with a rain date of March 6. A community day is set for March 20 to "showcase the different activities that can be done here at the park," Rissler said. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include several "selfie stations."
Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter @jayohday
This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 11:06 PM with the headline "SANCA board discusses capital improvements including donated playground ."