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Sarasota County to take ownership of Wellfield Park; city and county pledge at least $40 million for redevelopment
Summary
City of Venice and Sarasota County outlined an interlocal conveyance that will transfer Wellfield Regional Park to the county, with a funding agreement that initially combines at least $20 million from the county and $20 million from the city (including an initial $5 million payment) toward a multi‑phase redevelopment.
Sarasota County and the City of Venice are nearing a conveyance that will transfer Wellfield Regional Park to county ownership and launch a phased redevelopment financed by an initial $40,000,000 funding plan.
"These agreements were approved in 2024," James Clinch, assistant city manager for the City of Venice, said, describing six years of active negotiation that focused on staff relationships, joint capital planning and cost‑sharing solutions to address aging regional park facilities.
Nicole Rissler, Sarasota County director of parks, recreation and natural resources, said the three agreements (the interlocal, the conveyance and the funding agreement) set the path for county operation and capital investment. "The funding agreement does have the city providing dollars 20,000,000 to the redevelopment of Wellfield Park, and the county contributing a minimum of $20,000,000," she said, adding county sources are expected to include South County park impact fees, surtax funds and a portion of tourist development tax attributable to sports tourism.
Rissler and Clinch described the park as roughly 80 acres of regional athletic facilities with infrastructure largely original to the 1960s–1970s and at or near the end of its design life. Conveyance closing is "months away," Clinch said; the interlocal will take effect Oct. 1, 2026. Under the interlocal, the county will operate regional facilities while seven local parks will return to city operation on 10/01/2026; Chuck Ryder Park will remain under county operation through Oct. 1, 2029.
The county has approved a CIP project and staff plan to solicit a design team and construction manager-at-risk this fall. Rissler presented an anticipated schedule: master concept planning and community engagement late 2025–early 2026, roughly one year for design and permitting (2026–2027), and phased construction beginning in mid‑2027 to avoid full closure of heavily used fields and amenities.
The initial funding plan identifies about $40 million in combined city and county resources. On the city side, Rissler noted an agreed initial payment of $5,000,000 due within 12 months of conveyance plus Venice park impact fees; the county minimum contribution is $20,000,000 with expectation of higher total county investment over time.
Presenters stressed the importance of community engagement and protecting specialized uses; in response to questions they pledged that croquet greens and other volunteer‑built facilities would be preserved in place and provided supporting amenities such as restrooms.
County and city staff said they will finalize due diligence steps in the coming weeks and proceed to closing before launching the master planning process.
