City prepares Pineapple Park plans

The April 29 Sarasota Farmers Market will offer more than fresh fruit and vegetables — it will also provide the first look at a pair of concepts for redesigning Pineapple Park.

The city is working with design consultant David Conner + Associates to develop a master plan for Pineapple Park and Lemon Avenue. The planning began after the city sold a parcel adjacent to the park for redevelopment, and officials have expressed interest in maximizing the utility of the 6,600-square-foot downtown park.

The timing of the project prompted some questions from the public. The city is separately undertaking a nearly $150,000 improvement project to repair the mermaid fountain within Pineapple Park. That project is scheduled for completion May 19.

But, during the master-planning process, the city is developing two options to present to the public: one that maintains the fountain as-is, and a second that would modify a portion of the fountain. At this month’s Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations meeting, residents bristled at the idea the city would consider overhauling the fountain it is in the process of improving.

Although the two projects might seem contradictory, Todd Kucharski, the city’s public works general manager, said they’re operating on different timelines. The fountain was a short-term effort, with funding already in place to restore the artwork. The master planning is designed to provide a long-term road map.

Even when staff presents the conceptual plans to the City Commission — anticipated to take place this summer — there is no timeline for when the recommended changes actually get implemented. There is no funding allocated for long-term improvements to the park. Kucharski suggested the plan could get phased in as money becomes available.

Kucharski said the fountain is not ideally configured for the current footprint of the park, which has changed in the 24 years since the fountain was installed. If the city is preparing to examine the best use of Pineapple Park, staff wants to explore all its options.

A plan won’t get approved without public input — which is why Kucharski set up the presentation at the Farmers Market. He hopes residents are forthcoming with their desires for Pineapple Park so the city can develop recommendations that reflect the public’s interests.

“It’s just going to be open to the community to provide any comments,” Kucharski said of the meeting.