Nathan Benderson Park Recognized by APA Florida Chapter

Nathan Benderson Park, located in unincorporated Sarasota County, Florida, has received the APA Florida Award of Excellence in the Planning Project category. The award recognizes the transformation of a once unimproved borrow pit lake into a 600-acre regional park with a world-class rowing venue. The park, which was previously only used by a handful of local fishermen, has the potential to attract international visitors to Sarasota County while still serving the local community. The project involved extensive planning and design work, including dredging and lake restoration, construction of a boathouse, grandstand, and athlete training facilities, and the creation of a pedestrian bridge and trail system. The park’s transformation was driven by the need to provide a world-class venue for rowing events and the desire to create a public park that could be enjoyed by the community. The park’s design and planning were led by TSW, a consulting firm that specializes in planning, architecture, and landscape architecture. The project was completed in phases over several years, with each phase building on the previous one to create a cohesive and functional park. The park’s success is attributed to the collaboration between TSW, Sarasota County, and the community. The APA Florida Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding planning and design work that promotes sustainable communities and enhances the quality of life for all residents. The award will be presented during the Annual State Conference in Orlando, which will take place from September 10-13.