Lime Lake Park to Open Saturday

Sarasota County Parks and Recreation will host a grand opening celebration of Lime Lake Park at 10 a.m. Saturday at 2020 North Lime Ave.

The free event will feature comments from Sarasota County Commissioner Carolyn Mason, as well as officials from Parks and Recreation, the Sarasota County School Board and the North County Community Organization, a county release said.

A community-based action plan for improvements in and around the Lime Lake area was developed in 2008 with the North County Community Organization and area residents. Lime Lake is located at the north end of Lime Avenue, south of School. The three-acre neighborhood park includes almost a half-acre of land that was recently deeded from the Sarasota County School Board.

In November 2009 school board members expressed concern about deeding the property to the county for liability and safety issues. 

"I don’t have a problem deeding, but I would want some assurance of a wall or fencing as part of the agreement," said school board member Caroline Zucker in November 2009. Board members at the time also expressed concerns about the visibility of activities in the park because of its proximity to Emma Booker. 

Part of the improvements and amenities to Lime Lake is new fencing. Other improvements include a stormwater pond with fountain, wide walking trails, a fishing pier, gazebo and picnic areas.

Funding for the approximately $850,000 project was provided through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, a Community Development Block Grant, Surtax III (the one-cent infrastructure surtax) and general funds.