SARASOTA, Fla. — After a devastating double-punch from hurricanes Helene and Milton, the gates have re-opened at Sarasota's beloved Bayfront Park. The park, which is a popular destination for families, was closed for seven weeks following the storms because it was undergoing extensive repairs and cleanup.
"We're super happy to have our park back," said Josh, a local resident.
Josh was at the park with his wife, three kids and dog to take a quick walk ahead of Thanksgiving dinner and merriment.
"We go to a lot of the parks in the area being close by, but this is one of our favorite parks," Josh said. "So, it's important to have this for our family to walk around and enjoy."
The park remained a hit with visitors on its first full day back open, especially the children.
"We were exploring the park, and then she found the water, and it's going to be hard to get her to leave, I think," said Tim Long, a visitor from Virginia, referring to his young daughter, Leilani.
While the community can now have access to the park, and kids can have fun at the playground and splash pad, the nearby O'Leary's restaurant — a big draw for adult locals and tourists looking to hang out — remains closed. A boat that broke away during the storm was still lodged in its dock.
Despite the lingering signs of the storms, the community is relieved to have the park back.
"You can still see it in different places around. The fishing pier looks like it's having trouble still. But obviously the little one, she likes the park, not the fishing pier," Long said.
In a social media announcement, city officials said they were thankful to crews from the Parks and Recreations Department who worked "tirelessly" to restore things after the storms.
They also expressed gratitude to the community for waiting patiently throughout the recovery process.
As the community continues to recover from the hurricanes, the reopening of Bayfront Park offers a much-needed respite and a symbol of resilience.
"It takes a lot to recover from something like a big storm. So, you can tell the people at Sarasota are coming together. I'm sure we'll continue to come together to help recover from a storm coming through," Long concluded.
