SARASOTA, Fla. — After a nearly year-long delay, the 17th Street Regional Sports Complex project in Sarasota County is finally poised to begin construction.
County officials recently held a virtual meeting to update the public on the project's status. They revealed that the final permits, which were held up by the Army Corps of Engineers protocol, are about to be issued to pave the way for construction crews to move in and commence work on the project.
The $65 million project would transform 95 acres of the existing 17th Street Park complex into a state-of-the-art sports facility for the region. Once completed, the new sports complex would feature multiple athletic fields, including eight youth softball fields and multipurpose artificial fields for football, soccer and lacrosse.
Residents like Parker Goldwich, who grew up playing various sports like soccer, baseball and basketball at 17th Street Park, can't wait for the project's completion.
"We play all the time, like once every week we spin the wheel different sports. It's awesome," Goldwich said.
Goldwich was hanging out with friends at the park after a quick baseball game. He added that he was excited about the prospect of more athletes coming to the area.
"Kids can come out here and compete against each other. It'll bring in a lot of athletes to the area like at Benderson Park. They get a lot of rowers. Maybe we'll get a lot of little league baseball players coming down here," he said.
The project's scope extends beyond the athletic fields, with plans for concession stands, larger restrooms and shaded structures. County officials are keen on delivering a facility the community would be proud of.
"We're very excited to get some really cool new amenities," Nicole Rissler with Sarasota County Parks and Recreation said.
Rissler noted that the facility would have the county's first artificial turfs.
"More rectangles on the ground because we know we're short of those for the need that we have in our community," she said.
Construction is set to begin early next year, with a projected completion date of fall 2026. As the project moves forward, county officials will continue to engage with the community to get their feedback and input to ensure the final product of top-notch quality that meets the area's needs.
"I think with a couple millions put into this lot, it'll probably become quite the attraction," Goldwich concluded.