Lido Pool supporters reveal goals

Agreeing last year that the Lido Pool was an under-utilized city asset, the Sarasota city commissioners said they anticipated bigger and better things for the beachfront facility in the future.

During their regular meeting Tuesday, the commissioners listened to a report from Lido Pool Committee Chairman Carl Shoffstall on a year-long process to determine what residents and users want.

“The mission was to review, evaluate and recommend viable options for keeping the pool open to the public,” Shoffstall said. “We came up with a vision to renovate, construct and maintain the Lido Pool as a public facility with a variety of engaging uses.”

He added, “Our main objective is to find ways to try and keep this pool open,” noting, “It’s one of the few amenities we have on the island and we need to start using it correctly.”

Last summer, city staff presented a budget for the pool that showed it cost $180,000 a year to operate the facility, but it brought in only $78,000 in revenue.

The following are the recommendations presented to the commission to consider when it discusses upgrades for the facility:

• The long-term goal is to create a site master plan that provides opportunities for increased revenue.

• The objective for the pool is to increase efficiency of upkeep by upgrading equipment and to improve the revenue stream by providing enhanced amenities.

• The pavilion objective includes the possibility of future retail shops, a tiki bar, enhanced food service, an event room with a catering kitchen for private parties and weddings, a playground, a future splash pad and performance art space in the park.

• The marketing objective seeks additional, potential uses, including training by swim teams; the offer of private lessons for vendors, real-estate-agents and clients who rent residences on Lido Key; and use of the facility by neighborhood groups and tourists, as well as other island visitors.

The commissioners voiced approval of the report. Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown told them city staff can start looking for funds to upgrade the pool. Such money, however, might not become available for at least a few years, he said.

“You all did a tremendous amount of work with this and we thank you,” Commissioner Paul Caragiulo told the groups presenting the report.

Mayor Suzanne Atwell agreed.

“We’re on our way with this and it’s a great start,” Atwell said.

In August, Commissioner Shannon Snyder called the pool an “underperforming asset.” He and other commissioners said they thought it could be marketed as a destination point.

The city inherited the operation of the Lido Pool from the county, following months-long discussions over a parks interlocal agreement. The County Commission had made it known it no longer was willing to pay as much for maintenance and operations of city-owned parks, because of the economic downturn.

Five-year plan recommended for the Lido Pool
2012 — Restroom renovation, tiki bar construction
2013 — Meeting room and catering kitchen upgrades
2014 — Addition of rental pavilion, construction of small stage, removal and redesign of roof at the outdoor plaza, pool area improvements and construction of a splash pad area
2015 — Construction of meeting room garden plazas and roundabout, plus parking lot reconfiguration
2016 — Roof enhancement, exterior building enhancements, signage and planting/irrigation upgrades