Day: June 5, 2020

Doubles tennis to resume in city of Sarasota on June 8, with all playgrounds and basketball courts reopening on Tuesday, June 9

by

More city advisory boards being allowed to resume meeting, as well

The Payne Park Tennis Center is accessible from Adams Lane in downtown Sarasota. Image courtesy City of Sarasota

Although the City of Sarasota has extended its declaration of a local citywide public health emergency through June 12, its Parks and Recreation District has announced several reopenings, as follows:

  • Doubles tennis play will be allowed at the Payne Park Tennis Center and other outdoor tennis courts in the city starting Monday, June 8.
  • All playgrounds and basketball courts at city parks will reopen Tuesday, June 9.
  • Indoor pickleball courts at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex on 34th Street will reopen June 19 and will be available to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • The Robert L. Taylor Community Complex fitness center will reopen July 6. Fitness hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The athletic field at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex will remain closed while state personnel continue to operate a walk-up COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot, a city news release said.

The June 5 emergency order issued by City Manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and City Attorney Robert Fournier, also allows several city advisory boards to resume meetings, beginning on the following dates, the release noted:

  • Historic Preservation Board — July 14.
  • Newtown Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Board — June 25
  • Planning Board — Aug. 12
  • Public Art Committee — July 8.

The Development Review Committee (DRC) will meet on July 1, the release added. Subsequent DRC meetings will be conducted “as provided in subsequent emergency orders,” the release pointed out.

Further, certain development approval applications may be filed, as of the June 5 emergency order.

The order does strongly urge members of the public to wear protective masks when leaving home, including when they are in common areas of condominium complexes and apartment buildings, the release added. The order also encourages persons to acquire protective masks if they have not done so already.

Although city buildings remain closed to the public, most city operations and services are still available, the release noted. The public may conduct city business either online via www.SarasotaFL.gov or by phone at 941-263-6000.