Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April

Swimmers and rowers are expected to converge on Nathan Benderson Park in April for a slate of competitions that could attract more than 5,000 athletes.

First up, on April 2-4, will be U.S. Masters Swimming’s and USA Swimming’s national championships for sprint-distance and long-distance open water swimming.

USA Swimming’s events begin April 2 and include the 10K national championships for men and women; 5K national championships for male and female athletes 16 and under and over 16 and 3K national championships for male and female athletes 16 and under and over 16.

Masters swimming for ages 18 and older begins with a 1-mile race April 3. The Masters’ 5K race is scheduled for April 4.

All races will take place on the western shoreline of the park’s lake, beginning and ending adjacent to the timing tower.

On the following weekend,  the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association Sculling Championships will follow, featuring high school rowing teams from around the state. Competition will include single, double, and quad sculling events, drawing nearly 1,500 participants.

On April 18, the Sarasota International Dragon Boat Festival will return, expecting to draw more than 1,300 participants. The month will conclude with the FSRA State Sweep Championships, taking place April 25–26, with nearly 2,500 participants as Florida’s top scholastic rowing teams compete in sweep rowing events, including pairs, fours, and eights.  

“There is an electric energy that takes over the park when these athletes hit the water, and we are honored to be the home for both their sculling and sweep championships not just this year, but for the years to come,” said Bruce Patneaude, COO of Nathan Benderson Park.

In July, ground is expected to be broken on a $65 million project at the park to add indoor sports facilities to the aquatic race course on the lake.

Among the expected features of that project:

• 100,000 square feet of playing surface
• 24 boat storage racks
• Boat repair space
• A performance center and rental shop
• Locker rooms
• Catering kitchen
• Multipurpose meeting rooms
• Office space
• The ability to host: Eight basketball courts; 16 volleyball courts; 30 pickleball courts; 24 wrestling mats.
• Additionally, training space, a lounge, additional office space and a mezzanine will be part of the building’s second floor.

Benderson Park has been awarded the 2028 World Rowing Championships, which will take place a few months after the boathouse's targeted finish in the first quarter of 2028.

The 2026 USRowing Youth National Championships will be held at the park in June.

“Nathan Benderson Park has become one of the premier venues for rowing and water sports in the entire United States,” said Peter Harvey, director of sports at Visit Sarasota County. “Events like these demonstrate the park’s ability to attract major competitions and welcome athletes from across the country, bringing visitors to Sarasota County and supporting local hotels, restaurants and businesses.”