Walk in the Park: Bicentennial Park

A tour around the town's parks and public spaces.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • Share

You probably drive past Bicentennial Park daily, and you might not have ever noticed it. 

Pedestrians and cyclists might miss it, too. 

To be sure, it's not a place to fly kite or close in on the 10,000th step of the day, but Bicentennial Park is an oasis of sorts in the middle of what can be a very busy corner of Longboat Key.

Situated just west of Town Hall at the corner of Bay Isles Road (not Parkway) and Gulf of Mexico Drive, the park, as the town's website says: "was established through the efforts of the Town’s Bicentennial of the Constitution Committee in cooperation with Arvida Corporation and was dedicated July 4, 1976.  In 1978 the property was deeded to the town by Arvida for open space credit."

Recycled plastic benches, donated by the Longboat Key Garden Club, add to the experience as does a butterfly garden. Native plantings liven up the space as does another free sharing library (they're elsewhere in town, too).

Pay a visit and let us know what you learned. You might be surprised.

 

 

It stands to reason that a natural space such as Bicentennial Park would offer recycled plastic benches.
It stands to reason that a natural space such as Bicentennial Park would offer recycled plastic benches.
Careful. You might learn something by visiting Bicentennial Park.
Careful. You might learn something by visiting Bicentennial Park.
Nature takes precedence in Bicentennial Park.
Nature takes precedence in Bicentennial Park.
You can't walk a mile in Bicentennial Park (well, you could), but pathways lead through the space.
You can't walk a mile in Bicentennial Park (well, you could), but pathways lead through the space.
A butterfly garden, donated by the Longboat Key Garden Club.
A butterfly garden, donated by the Longboat Key Garden Club.
A butterfly box.
A butterfly box.
Take a book, leave a book.
Take a book, leave a book.
The Longboat Key Garden Club is responsible for lots of the trees and shrubs.
The Longboat Key Garden Club is responsible for lots of the trees and shrubs.
History!
History!
The park was dedicated on July 4, 1976.
The park was dedicated on July 4, 1976.
In the butterfly garden, a bench strikes a familiar pose.
In the butterfly garden, a bench strikes a familiar pose.
Park benefactors include these 13 citizens.
Park benefactors include these 13 citizens.
Parking for Bicentennial Park is available at Town Hall.
Parking for Bicentennial Park is available at Town Hall.

 

Latest News

Sarasota Schools Superintendent Terry Connor speaks during the State of the Community luncheon in April.
  • May 12, 2026
School-tax fee reversal slated to come before county commissioners next week
My-Lien Truong and Dwight Fitch, the radiation oncologists at Advocate Radiation Oncology in Lakewood Ranch, both studied chemical engineering before pursuing radiation oncology.
  • May 12, 2026
Radiation, oncology center opens Lakewood Ranch office
Costello’s Neighborhood Pizza owner Kenny Palin takes a pie out of the oven at the Longboat Key branch of Costello’s.
  • May 12, 2026
Owner rebrands Longboat, Gulf Gate pizza joints to Costello's Neighborhood Pizza
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is the only Gulf-facing property on Longboat Key with a private beach groin, constructed decades ago by Colony Beach & Tennis Resort owner Murf Klauber to fight beach erosion.
  • May 12, 2026
St. Regis, town headed to court as Whittall defies order

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content