County plans bathrooms for Siesta Key park

Roughly a year after Sarasota County finished $1.1 million worth of improvements at Nora Patterson Bay Island Park, staff are pitching plans for more changes at the north Siesta Key park.

The county has earmarked $200,000 in its tentative Fiscal 2017 budget to design and build restrooms at the park, which sits on the west end of Siesta’s north bridge. There are currently only portable bathrooms available on the property, which serves as a popular fishing destination.

According to budget documents, the county will use impact fees to pay for the improvements.

Last year, the county reopened the park with a new name celebrating former County Commissioner Nora Patterson, and unveiled at least 1,000 feet of new seawall, updated landscaping and new benches. 

Developers had once proposed building high-rise condominiums and apartments on the parkland, which neighbors successfully opposed with the legal help of Patterson’s husband, attorney John Patterson, who was on the team representing Bay Island residents. The county bought the southern portion of the park for $120,000 in 1977; the city had acquired the northern side in 1973.

Staff will present the tentative budget will be presented to county commissioners Monday, August 22.