Almost 300 acres in the City of Sarasota
The historic Bobby Jones Golf Club of nearly 300 acres plays a significant environmental role for the region. Enormous volumes of storm water, including runoff from as far away as the Mall at University Town Center, are retained and filtered by the property before flowing into Sarasota Bay. The almost 300 acres of green space situated within an urban area serve as habitat for birds and many other wildlife species. In a February 2024 bird count, Sarasota Audubon Society counted 76 different bird species onsite! New and existing trees on the property also play a critical air quality role by processing carbon from the atmosphere, thereby improving local air quality, cooling the region, and helping to counter climate change.
TImeline
January 2022
The Sarasota City Commission voted unanimously to conserve this park with a conservation easement.
November 2023
The City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation Department rolled out ideas for additional amenities to the park for Phase II, as funding permits. Click here to visit their website and learn more.
December 2023
Bobby Jones Nature Park opened to the public.
2024
Work began to plant thousands of trees throughout the property.
Community Benefits of Master Plan
27 holes
Restore and upgrade 27 holes of golf (one regulation 18-hole course and one short 9-hole course for beginners and seniors)
130 acres
of nature trails, while also improving water quality by removing excess nutrients before they flow into Sarasota Bay
9.8 million gallons
of stormwater to help prevent downstream flooding
1,620 metric tons
CO2 storage – the equivalent of preventing greenhouse gas emissions from burning 1.8 million pounds of coal for a year
- Create a unique recreation destination with more natural open space for people and wildlife
- Provide new recreational amenities including a playground, lawn bowling, and nature trails to expand the use of the park for more people in the community
- Offer the potential to expand the Legacy Trail along Circus Blvd. to and through The Meadows and on to Benderson Park
- A conservation easement ensures the property is never developed, reduced in size, or degraded.
