The Bay nears a million visits on its third anniversary

Over the past three years, The Bay has done more for the community than entertain residents with free live music concerts and foster healthy habits with its multitude of exercise classes. 

The park has forged deeper connections in the community, as evidenced by the fact it was the only local park not to close in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, partly due to the commitment of residents to clear debris quickly from the park.

Diana Shaheen, chief operating officer at The Bay, reminisced about that demonstration of camaraderie and other significant moments in the park's development during the third anniversary celebration on Oct. 1.

"To know that when we opened in October 2022, three weeks after Hurricane Ian, we would now reach almost a million visits, is fantastic," she said. "This has really become a beloved gathering place for everybody in the community, which is what it was designed for."

Fringe was flying as dancers twirled their partners and practiced their footwork in a salsa class led by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Grammy-award-winner Millie Puente and her band enlivened the outdoor amphitheater with live music while attendees danced the night away. Puente is a cousin of famous bandleader Tito Peunte.

But that was only one event of the approximately 80 events planned for this month to celebrate the anniversary. The full lineup is available at TheBaySarasota.org. 

Shaheen, who has been involved with the park's programs from the very beginning, noted with excitement that The Bay has surpassed 900,000 visits and is on track to break the barrier soon.

"We've had more than 2,000 free events here in three years, and we plan on having thousands more," she said.

That translates to millions of connections forged and memories made, which she said goes a long way in building a more resilient community.

"It's good for people socially and emotionally, and it gives them a sense of belonging," she said.

Residents have plenty to look forward to enjoying this year with the plethora of programs. But there are some large updates coming soon too.

She said organizers just received approval to start Phase IIA of the park's development plans. This phase focuses on opening up pedestrian paths near North Tamiami Trail, creating a 16-foot-wide tree-lined promenade.

"The objective is to connect all the cultural buildings in the area," she said. "We have four buildings on the national register of historic places, and the promenade connects all of them. Connectivity is one of our key principles within the park, but also across the community."

One of Shaheen's favorite annual events is "Boo! at the Bay," a family Halloween celebration coming up again on Oct. 18. A full list of events is available on the park's online calendar.

"Whether it's a bigger or smaller event, I love it all," she said.