FAQs

Who are the Friends of Rosemary Park?

We are a group of individuals who are passionate about the Rosemary District with the shared vision to build a park in the neighborhood.

Our role is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and vision for the project by the City of Sarasota by illuminating the process and people behind the initiative. We hope to inspire you to get involved and participate in the journey towards creating Rosemary Park.

Why is this project happening now?

A park at Central Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts has been envisioned in city-wide plans for over 20 years. More recently the development of a Parks & Recreation Master Plan was commissioned in 2017 and completed in 2018. The Master Plan confirmed the desire and need for a park in the Rosemary District. The Rosemary District Park received a high priority designation as currently there is no park in our neighborhood, and for that matter, there is precious little public open space in the entire Rosemary District.

Where is the site of the proposed Rosemary Park?

The site for the Rosemary Park is at the corner of Blvd of the Arts & Central Ave. It’s currently occupied by two freestanding buildings.

How was the site selected?

Several sites were considered for Rosemary Park by an open space committee. In 2020, a decision was reached to acquire two parcels on the Southwest Corner of Boulevard of the Arts & Central Avenue.

Who paid for the park?

The park was paid for by developers of condos and apartments in the City of Sarasota, who contributed park impact fees with their developments. Each new dwelling unit a developer constructs, includes a payment into a “Park Impact Fee” fund. In total, the City amassed approximately 95% of the cost of the land for the park. To close the gap, individuals contributed personally raising $120,000 towards acquiring the desired parcels. This contribution was voluntary and a one-time event to help secure the parkland.

Am I being taxed for any aspect of this park?

No. The acquisition of the land for the park parcel and construction will be completely paid from the Park Impact Fee fund and voluntary contributions made from area ‘friends of the park’.

How was the design firm selected?

In early 2021 a committee was formed of committed Rosemary stakeholders. They included residents, business owners, and property owners. This committee oversaw the selection process, interviewing 3 firms and through a diligent process, the recommended firm to proceed with was Kimley-Horn. Kimley-Horn was chosen due to the following criteria:

Team & Background. They are a local firm that demonstrated the strongest understanding of the site. They brought a multidisciplinary team of 5 individuals to the presentation via video and showcased the strongest bench strength out of all of the firms with respect to their capabilities and experience. 

 Portfolio of Parks. Their work showcased a deep understanding of how to translate theory into reality. Their community engagement in past projects was the strongest of all three participants. And they showcased the most diverse portfolio with the most relevant context to the specific park size. 

Communication & Timeline. Their presentation was on point, addressed all of the criteria sought, and proposed a working timeline that fit within the articulated milestones. They designated a very clear methodology for contact throughout the project, both between the firm and the committee, but also presented strong experience externally too. 

Community Commitment. They showed the broadest and most diverse outreach overall out of the three vendors. They also demonstrated a passion for the project that stood out above any of the other presenters and the committee felt that given the options available, they would be the most committed team to partner with on the design of such a landmark park in our neighborhood.

Who oversees this project?

The city of Sarasota Parks & Recreation Department oversees the development of the park. The Rosemary Park Committee was a one-time committee that organized to set this initiative into motion, identifying a park designer and getting the foundation for community input developed in the form of a survey.

What can I do as an interested member of the Rosemary District community?

Take the survey. Sign up for the newsletter to stay informed. Follow Friends of Rosemary Park on social media. Look out for announcements throughout the neighborhood.

Who operates this website?

This public information initiative is led by DreamLarge, a local benefit corporation headquartered in the Rosemary District. The work effort behind it was donated to ensure equity and inclusion through the process so that any resident or visitor to the neighborhood could stay informed of the facts, process, and outcomes as they unfold. The domain, data, and information within it will become the property of the City of Sarasota.

What can I do as a local business or community organization?

Become involved, sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social and share your feedback. It is critical all stakeholders in the Rosemary District be involved during the community engagement portion of the park effort. We want to hear from everyone as to their wants, needs, and desires for Rosemary Park.

How long will the project take?

The park is anticipated to open in 2023. The design and planning process will run through 2022, with construction commencing in 2023.

What does the process look like?

You can learn more about the journey on our Journey page.

When can I expect to enjoy the Rosemary District Park?

You can expect to fully enjoy Rosemary Park in 2024.

Where did the logo for Friends of Rosemary Park come from?

Originally conceived as a mural at the intersection of Blvd of the Arts & Central Ave., the primary artwork depicting birds of different colors adorned the side of the now-forgotten boxing club in the heart of the Rosemary District. The boxing club served as an anchor for the neighborhood. We wanted to pay homage to the history of the neighborhood and chose to adapt it in our brand. While we have been unable to trace the individuals who painted the mural, we believe it fundamentally represents the ethos of what we ascribe to at Friends of Rosemary Park. If you happen to know who created it, please get in touch with us!

Have an unanswered question? Contact us and we will get back to you!