Park improvements to preserve a legacy

By funding improvements to Causeway Park, Ernest Werlin is honoring his late wife — and, he hopes, setting an example for others.

The Werlins first came to Sarasota in 2007, and Eloise Werlin was enamored by the city during her time here. In particular, one of her favorite recreational activities was walking from their residence at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota to Bayfront Park, Ernest Werlin said.

Shortly before her death, she had a conversation with her husband about buying a bench at Bayfront Park in her memory. He was eager to fulfill her wishes, but he wanted to do something even bigger.

“I felt that she was such a wonderful person,” Werlin said. “A bench was nice, but it didn’t really reflect my love and admiration for her.”

Since 2011, Werlin has been looking for an adequate way to preserve his wife’s legacy. Now, he believes he’s found it at Causeway Park, located on the bayfront on the east side of the John Ringling Causeway.

Werlin is making a $125,000 donation for improvements at the park, which is slated to be renamed Eloise Werlin Causeway Park. Werlin chose the park because of its proximity to his home and its smaller size, which allowed him to fund more comprehensive improvements. Additionally, he said, the park is one that could benefit from additional amenities.

“Frankly, the park does need upgrading,” Werlin said. “It’s in a beautiful location, but it doesn’t have enough shading; it doesn’t have any facilities for little children to play.”

Werlin has worked with city staff to identify the upgrades needed at the park. Planned additions include a small playground, extra shading and stretching equipment. In addition, Werlin says, he hopes to resurface cracked walkways.

Of the donation, $75,000 will go toward immediate upgrades, while $50,000 will be put in an endowment at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to go toward long-term maintenance. Todd Kucharski, the city’s public works general manager, said Werlin’s dedication to the long-term well-being of the park made the donation process an easy one.

“He appreciates and encourages us to make sure that aesthetically it works well and it functions well,” Kucharski said. “It’s not just a one-time, ‘Here’s a playground; have at it,’ so I appreciate that.”

Werling wants to be the first of many who are moved to improve local parks in honor of someone else. By working with the city administration on this project, he hopes he’s established a precedent that will make the donation process simpler — and that he’s inspired others to take up a similar cause.

“Many of the people in our community have lost loved ones, and they’d like to remember those people,” Werlin said. “There are a number of little parks around here, and they can take on the challenge of improving those facilities.”

Already, he’s begun to make it easier for anyone who wishes to follow in his footsteps, for the City Commission directed staff to begin drafting an official policy for the renaming of public places.

At a July 7 meeting, commissioners also voted unanimously to accept Werlin’s donation and directed staff to draft an ordinance for the park’s name change. When the park is renamed and the improvements are implemented, Werlin plans to scatter his wife’s ashes on the grounds. In honoring his wife’s memory, he hopes he’s also making the city she loved a better place to live.

“I thought in making this park a more inviting place, I can help this community,” Werlin said. “Hopefully in a success mode with this effort, others will enhance other areas of our exciting city.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected]