Five Points Park may receive boost

After the Downtown Improvement District was forced to scale back its improvement plan for Five Point Park because of a lack of funds, another downtown group is stepping in to help.

The Downtown Sarasota Alliance has applied for a $51,000 grant from the Marie Selby Foundation to cover the cost of several features that had to be dropped from the official plan.

DSA member John Moran said the money would pay for additional lighting, moveable tables and chairs and seating built around tree trunks.

Moran said the foundation appeared favorable to the request, but it was competing against many other applicants.

The Five Points Park improvement plan seeks to make the park more attractive to visitors by removing the concrete curb around the park, installing a walkway from Central Avenue to Pineapple Avenue and constructing a performance platform.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the first or second week of August and be completed the first week of November.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].