Culverhouse park fence questioned

Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta and some Stonebridge residents are questioning a new chain-link fence surrounding a one-acre community garden site at the Culverhouse Nature Park, even though it was approved and partly paid for by the county.

At a March 27 Sarasota County Commission meeting, Barbetta told his fellow commissioners that a few Stonebridge residents sent him a picture of the newly erected chain-link fence that was placed around Culverhouse Community Garden at the newest county park to come to Palmer Ranch.

“I’ve seen a picture of the fence, and it doesn’t look too nice,” Barbetta said at the meeting. “We don’t allow chain-link fences around stormwater ponds, so why would we allow one there?”

Catherine Dente, one of the community garden’s organizers, told the Sarasota Observer the fence needed to be chain-link and placed one foot underground to deter deer and feral hogs from getting into the garden. The chain-link fence, which was approved by the county, has also been approved at other parks, although the color of those county fences is usually green.

In an email she sent to Barbetta March 29, Dente also sent a picture of the fence, which is barely visible to residents off Bee Ridge Road in Stonebridge who have homes on a cul-de-sac near the park. Those residents are also upset that some people park in the cul-de-sac and gain access to the park via their community.

But Dente said the fence won’t be visible once vegetation around it grows. There are also trees between the neighborhood and the park now.

“More than 170 Palmer Ranch residents have signed up to use the community garden, and thousands of people will enjoy this park,” Dente said. “We are trying to appeal to the five Stonebridge homeowners to think of this park as a future property enhancement that won’t be visible at all soon.”

Once an entrance to the park is built this summer off McIntosh Road, Dente said the cul-de-sac will not be used to access the park. Park supporters have since ceased using the cul-de-sac once they received complaints.

Margaret Brading, president of the Palmer Ranch Communities Coalition, also urged Stonebridge residents to be patient.

S“It’s barely visible at all now,” Brading said. “There will be fully planted tress around there that will grow up, too, and you will never see it.”

Dente said she thinks everyone will be happy with the park and the garden once it’s completed.

“It’s a wonderful amenity for Sarasota County that Stonebridge residents will enjoy just as much as everyone else,” Dente said.

tonebridge on Palmer Ranch board members and residents couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.