Park plans ready to drive forward

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is getting closer to launching construction on a 44.5-acre, multi-purpose community park north of State Road 70 and east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Site plans submitted with Manatee County for review show a dog park, open play fields and walking trails, wedged between two future developments, Arbor Grande and DiVosta.

Plans for the project are working through Manatee County’s planning process, but SMR President of Development Bob Simons said SMR expects to open the first phase of the $1 million park by the end of 2016 with future phases open by the end of 2018. Once finished, it will include restrooms and a 1,456-square-foot pavilion, an all-purpose field, open play fields, a dog park, tot lots and walking trails.

Simons said amenities are selected by popular demand.

“The Lakewood Ranch Community Park is nestled in an area of growth within the Lakewood Centre Development of Regional Impact boundary,” Simons said. “The residential communities of Arbor Grande, Mallory Park and the Echo Lake Apartments are under construction. Likewise, the Gatewood Drive, White Eagle Boulevard and Wood Fern Trail roadway construction projects are underway. The roadway projects will open the community park up to Central Park, Harmony, Bridgewater, Esplanade, Indigo and Savanna.”

Although the Lakewood Centre Development of Regional Impact is only partially built, with about 47% of residential and 7% of office/retail entitlements developed, Simon said it is time to move forward with the project.

Located east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, west of White Eagle Boulevard and south of Gatewood Drive, the park will be owned and operated by the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District, a special taxing district that governs land owned by SMR in Sarasota and Manatee counties and is located outside Phase 1 development (Lakewood Ranch Country Club, Greenbrook, Summerfield and Riverwalk communities).