County officials have high hopes for upcoming park

A roller coaster for fish, a rock wall shaped like a giant hand and swings shaped like unicorns were just a few of the ideas kicked around by kids outside a Sarasota County Parks and Recreation event on Saturday.

County officials encouraged kids to give their opinions on what sort of equipment should be installed at the county’s upcoming park on the corner of U.S. 41 and Taylor Ranch Trail in Venice, Florida.

A long piece of paper was rolled onto the floor and covered with crayons. Seven posters speckled with green stickers were taped to the wall. The children were given seven green stickers to mark their favorite pieces of equipment in the categories presented by the county, which ranged from swings to climbing equipment.

Playground equipment catalogues were piled between markers and crayons for children to use to create their own park plans.

Parents were also invited to provide input, suggesting seesaws and competing slides for kids to race down.

The park is still in its preliminary design stages as park planners wait on a report ruling whether there is a wetland on the property, which would force planners to condense what they are hoping will be a premier playground for the area.  

Once they have the report, the parks and recreation department will still need to finalize the plans, acquire permits and present the plans to the County Commission. Construction is likely to begin in early 2018.

The proposed plans feature what Planning and Capital Program Manager Rob Ladue says will be one of the largest playgrounds in the area. He’s hopeful it will become a destination for families throughout the county.

“We want to attract families from neighboring communities.” Ladue said.

Sarasota County Park Planner Jerod Huwa said the plans are unique due to the scale of the playground. He also plans on adding changes in elevation to create an amphitheater and a scaled down version of Celery Fields with swings at the top to give kids the impression of flight.

“It feels like you’re flying, especially when you’re only 3 ½ feet tall,” Huwa said.

Which is good news for Haiden Williams, 8, of Venice. She told the Sarasota Observer she would include swings and cheetahs in her ideal park.

Though cheetahs are unlikely, Sarasota County Director of Parks and Recreation Carolyn Brown says they’re hoping for the best.

“We are dreaming big and we’re just going to see what happens,” Brown said.