Are pickleball courts coming to Nathan Benderson Park? See the new plans
Nathan Benderson Park could be getting a new look.
New plans for an indoor athletic facility that adds new recreational opportunities and a boathouse were presented at a recent Sarasota County Commission meeting. The popular 550-acre park sits just south of University Parkway and west of Interstate 75.
Sarasota County Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Nicole Rissler and Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy CEO Bruce Patneaude gave an update on the project on July 9.
The two-story facility was first proposed in 2022. Since then, the private, nonprofit conservancy picked St. Petersburg-based WJ Architects and developed a site plan.
It will be developed on Regatta Island just south of the Benderson Family Finish Tower.
“The reason we picked the (architect) that we did is … they twisted this site plan around so that it opened up the island and gave us more efficient use of the space and parking that we’d still have,” Patneaude said.
New athletic complex planned near UTC
The facility will have space for either eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, 24 wrestling mats, 30 pickleball courts or any combination of them on the first floor. The boathouse, restaurant, concession and meeting space would also be housed on the ground floor.
Patneaude said they estimate the boathouse will have 12 different bays.
The second floor features a training area, an athlete lounge, offices and a spectator viewing area.
Commission Chair Dr. Joe Neunder praised the facility’s versatility.
“There seems to be a culture and an underlying theme in this community for pickleball,” Neunder said. “And I’m curious as to when Sarasota County might be able to host a nationally-recognized pickleball tournament, both men’s and women’s.”
What are the costs?
Benderson Development, which owns the nearby University Town Center Mall, has paid for all of the preliminary costs, Rissler told commissioners.
The total construction cost is in the $60 to $70 million range.
Rissler said it is an estimate, and they are hopeful to get full construction plans by the end of 2025 for a better answer on the facility’s cost.
However, the aim is to have Benderson Development cover 20% of the construction costs, $20 million from Sarasota County’s Tourist Development Tax and the remainder through private fundraising efforts.
“This used to be a dirt pit,” Commissioner Teresa Mast said. “I just want everybody to let that sink in for a minute. We now have a world-class location. I know that Siesta Key is one of our gems, but so is this. … We have taken a lemon and made lemonade. World-class lemonade.”
Benderson Park has previously hosted marquee rowing events such as the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
A project status update with final estimated costs will come once the design is complete. Rissler said they are aiming for early 2026 to have an update for the county commission.
