Facility stands in ‘heart of the Rosemary District’
Overtown Square, the newest public park in the City of Sarasota, will be dedicated during a public ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, in the park, which stands at 1386 Boulevard of the Arts, city staff has announced.
Members of the community are invited to attend the event; the first 100 guests will receive “a small commemorative keepsake,” a news release notes.
Located on 0.24 acres “in the heart of the Rosemary District, Overtown Square is a much needed and desired pocket park,” the release says. Among the amenities are “tables, benches, umbrellas, custom pavers and landscaping featuring 16 new trees covering a variety of species: Silver Buttonwood, West Indian Mahogany, Pink Tabebuia, Orange Geiger, Crape Myrtle, Muskogee Crape Myrtle and Silver Bismark Palm,” the release points out.
“Creating a park in the Rosemary District was first identified in the Sarasota Master Plan over 20 years ago,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle in the release. “Since then, the Rosemary District has grown and with it the desire for open green space,” he continued. “The community’s commitment to building this park was unwavering. From helping to buy the land to sharing feedback on the design to naming the park,” Fogle said, “the partnership between the city and neighborhood truly was unique.”
He added, “Residents put blood, sweat and tears into this park. We’re grateful to everyone who was involved with creating this special space, where residents can gather to socialize and enjoy the outdoors in an urban environment.”
The release further notes, “To meet the delta between the appraised property value and proposed sale price of the parcel, residents and friends of Rosemary District contributed $120,000 toward the purchase in January 2021.”
“In late 2020, thanks to a joint effort by a few tireless residents and then-City Manager Tom Barwin, a landowner in the Rosemary District agreed to sell, but at a price $120,000 higher than the City could pay,” said city Commissioner Debbie Trice in the release. At the time, she was the Rosemary District Association president.
“The Rosemary District community and friends had less than a month to make up the difference,” Trice continued in the release. “And we did it! Just about everyone in the neighborhood — residents, businesses, nonprofits and visitors — chipped in. We even accepted small change from people walking by. As a result, Overtown Square is truly a community park. Working together, we made it happen,” she added.
“Residents also overwhelmingly supported naming the park Overtown Square to honor Sarasota’s first Black community, Overtown,” the release explains. “A historical marker will be erected in the park detailing the significance of the Overtown community,” the release adds.
With the opening of Overtown Square, the City of Sarasota boasts 62 parks and recreational facilities, including The Bay Park, which comprises 53 acres on the city’s waterfront.
The city’s Comprehensive Plan requires a minimum of 10 acres of park property or open space per 1,000 residents, the release points out. The city exceeds that number, with 18 acres of recreation and open space per 1,000 residents, the release notes. “In addition, a goal included in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan calls for a public park within a 10-minute walk for every resident.
For more information about City of Sarasota parks, visit www.LetsPlaySarasota.com.