- December 16, 2025
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When it came to delivering "the state of Manatee County address" Dec. 8 to the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Administrator Charlie Bishop didn't have to use a slide show to illustrate his No. 1 item.
He was standing in it.
Bishop talked about the newly expanded Bradenton Area Convention Center, which was hosting the Chamber event.
The $54 million expansion was one of several projects touted by the administration as being key to the county's future. Completed in November, the expansion added 95,000 square feet of new conference space and is expected to generate up to $40 million in economic impact in its first year of operation.
Bishop said it’s the only convention center of its scale between St. Petersburg and Naples.
He was speaking at the Chamber's final luncheon of the year, in which the state of Manatee County presentation by the county administrator has become a tradition.
Bishop delivered the presentation along with deputy county administrators Courtney De Pol, Bryan Parnell and Corey Stutte.
The administration also touched on parks, roadwork, legislative priorities and the budget.
One major question that arose in 2025 was whether or not the county needs to keep nearly $1 billion in reserves, Bishop spoke about the reserves specifically, calling them the county’s “savings account.”
“These reserves are used to help keep projects on track, covering cost changes, providing grant matches or bridging timing gaps for when funding comes in later,” Bishop said. “That’s why reserves matter.”
He noted that reimbursements from Hurricane Idalia in 2023 are only just now beginning to come back to the county.
Parnell discussed park projects. Manatee County has $24 million earmarked for parks in its five-year capital improvement plan.
Hidden Harbor Park is located across the street from the Fort Hamer boat ramp and is expected to be completed by summer 2026. The $6.5 million park will feature a pump track, playground and kayak launch.
John H. Marble Park is in the midst of a $22.6 million makeover. In February, the updated recreation center was unveiled and reopened without the pool and splash pad. Construction is currently underway.
Instead of six lanes, the 25-meter pool will feature eight lanes and a larger pool deck. A 4,000-square-foot splash pad will be installed next to the pool.
Another splash pad is being installed at Tom Bennett Park. To go along with the all-inclusive playground that opened in April 2024, the splash pad was designed with zero-entry access, so children of all abilities can use it.
“It’s another example of how we’re creating spaces that bring people together, celebrate community and make Manatee County a place where everyone belongs,” Parnell said.
When talking about the 50-meter pool coming to Premier Sports Campus North, Parnell called it “more than a pool.” He called it a “regional asset that will serve families, athletes and visitors.”
The Athletics and Aquatics Center is anticipated to open in September 2026.
The newest deputy county administrator, Corey Stutte, covered the topic of roads. Stutte was hired in June.
He said widening Upper Manatee River Road and adding sidewalks, bike lanes and lighting is a major effort to relieve congestion, improve safety and ensure that Manatee County keeps pace with the population in the area.
However, he noted that major projects like that don’t solve every problem.
“The places where those roads meet our intersections are just as critical in safety, mobility and efficiency,” Stutte said. “That’s why we continue to invest in targeted intersection improvements across our community.”
While smaller in scale, intersection improvements make an immediate impact, as do paving projects.
In 2022, commissioners approved paving about 53 miles of existing shell roads located in rural Manatee County. About 17 miles were paved in the northern portion of the county.
Due to “funding limitations,” paving the shell roads in East County was pushed off until 2027. Once started, the project is expected to take about two years to complete.
Deputy County Administrator Courtney De Pol laid out Manatee County’s 2026 legislative priorities and appropriation requests:
“This year’s state legislative agenda reflects a balanced investment in people, infrastructure and places,” De Pol said. “(These projects) are an investment in resiliency, recovery and a long-term quality of life for everyone in Manatee County.”
