Facilities had suffered extensive damage during 2024 hurricane season
On March 17, slightly more than five months after Hurricane Milton came ashore at Big Sarasota Pass between Siesta and Lido keys, Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR) staff announced the reopening of Ted Sperling Park on south Lido Key Beach.
“[E]xtensive recovery efforts were necessary to reach that milestone,” a county advisory said.
“The park sustained significant storm impacts and was used to help manage storm debris from the Lido Key community,” the advisory explained. Yet, “thanks to dedicated restoration work by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources staff, volunteers, and hurricane recovery contractors, it’s once again ready to welcome visitors,” the advisory added.
During an Oct. 24, 2024 press conference, Nicole Rissler, director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, announced that the county was going to reactivate a number of its beaches starting Saturday, Oct. 26; amenities at those sites once again could reopen to the public. Among those shoreline parks were Siesta Key Beach, Nokomis Beach and the beaches on Venice Island.
However, Rissler said at that time, South Lido had to remain closed. She indicated that vegetative debris and materials that Hurricane Milton swept from the neighboring condominiums into Ted Sperling Park and its environs were the primary reasons for that status.
Lido Beach reopened to the public on Nov. 2, 2024, the City of Sarasota announced.
In a news release published in late October 2024, city staff explained, “City of Sarasota Public Works, Parks and Recreation crews and contractors have worked tirelessly the past several weeks to restore Lido Beach facilities so the area could reopen to the public.”
The release added, “Buckled concrete sidewalks were removed and replaced with new concrete slabs.” Washed-out “beach access points were cleared of storm debris and restored for safe foot travel,” it continued. “An exposed cavity beneath a seawall was backfilled with sand. The restrooms and concession area also were deep cleaned,” the release said.
For a complete list of county beaches and parks open to the public, visit www.SarasotaCountyParks.com for the Park Status Report.