The next phases of development include a makeover of the 10th Street Boat Ramp.
By Gretchen Cochran
Original Air Date: October 17, 2025
Host: The new park sprouting around the Van Wezel complex near downtown Sarasota is now expanding north. On Monday, the city commission will discuss releasing another $20 million for phases three and four of The Bay, and that includes a makeover of the popular boat ramp. Gretchen Cochran gives us a preview.
Makeover of 10th Street Boat Canal. Photos by John Haupt
Gretchen Cochran: Sarasota City Commissioners are scheduled Monday to approve the funding for the next improvements for that huge park near downtown called The Bay.
The 54-acre park has been in process for nearly a decade under the guidance of a private-public partnership called The Bay Park Conservancy. While it’s been in development, 920,000 visits have been racked up. But it’s only about half done, costing $37 million so far.
On Monday, The Bay will seek the city’s approval for continued funding in a tax-sharing agreement with Sarasota County.
If you’ve attended a performance at Van Wezel, then you probably parked in the middle of The Bay’s property. If you launched a boat from the downtown canal, you were in another part of The Bay property.
The Sarasota Terminal – today 10th Street Boat Ramp – in the 1920s.
And it’s that boat part that’s been getting more focus of late as the Bay Park Conservancy seeks approval of funds to launch what it calls Phases 3 and 4. The canal area, at the north end of the property, will get more attention. Boaters know it as the 10th Street Boat Ramp.
At the March meeting of the Bay Park Improvement Board, a boater spoke representing 100 guides and other boaters. He said the 10th Street launch is the biggest within 20 miles. And the Bay folks appear to have recognized that.
Between Centennial Park and the rest of The Bay is a narrow canal—like a slot through which boats can launch into the Gulf and return.
View from the boat ramp of the site of the future restaurant.
The sea wall bordering the south edge of the canal has been rebuilt. New day docks are being added so that boaters can cruise in, spend a day in the park, and then head out. Or they may wish to grab a bite at the restaurant to be built close by. The Venice Pier Group has already been selected to manage that restaurant, which should be open in about two years. The goal is that boaters from around Sarasota Bay and the Gulf will head to the so-called 10th Street Boat Ramp, grab a bite to eat, and maybe attend a play or other event in the park.
Another boat ramp will be added and the trailer parking area will be increased.
Because The Bay property is within the floodplain, efforts throughout have been literally to raise it higher.
The Bay folks envision a 20-foot-high grass-covered mound replacing the Van Wezel parking lot. Within the mound would be a parking garage. Adjacent to that mound would be two more restaurants.
While attention is being directed above the ground, below the ground will be the continued water-cleaning treatment systems.
Always, however, a contingent of the 12-person Bay staff is focusing on serving the people. Throughout this month, parties are constant, celebrating the park’s third birthday. Check it out at thebaysarasota.org.
For WSLR, this is Gretchen Cochran reporting.
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