Current Projects
It Starts in Parks
Parks are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in a community, ensuring the health of families and youth, and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of a community and a region. On any given day, someone is being positively affected through parks and recreation – whether they are taking a walk on a trail or fitness class at the community center, learning a lifelong skill, or just reaping the benefits of clean air and water because of preserved open space.
While serving a growing community, the Parks and Recreation Department provides public parks, trails, natural areas, and recreation facilities. To fulfill it's mission of promoting healthy and socially rewarding activities through the preservation of cultural resources and the provision of diverse high-quality parks and natural spaces, the Department must constantly plan for development and improvement.
Through the City’s Capital Improvement Program, the Department identifies projects that support community needs, prevent the deterioration of existing infrastructure, and respond to and anticipate the future growth of the City.
To check on the status of park projects and view future considerations, visit the Capital Improvement Projects page or review the current City Development Map.
For more information, contact Parks & Recreation at (941) 429-PARK(7275).
Circle of Honor
About the Project
On March 23, 2021, Resolution 2021-R-17 was adopted by City Commission establishing the Veterans Park Advisory Committee to make recommendations regarding the new Veterans Park at North Port City Center. During the June 28, 2022 City Commission Regular meeting, approval was provided to name the site Circle of Honor based on submissions provided by the Veterans Park Advisory Committee. The FY22 Capital Improvement Program includes project #P21VET funded with $500,000 from Parks and Recreation Impact Fees to support design and construction of the site which will honor Veterans of all U.S. Military forces, past, present and future.
Location
The Circle of Honor will be located within the North Port City Center Complex, per the map below.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Are you interested in sponsoring an amenity for this project? Contact Laura Ansel, Marketing and Engagement Coordinator, at 941-429-7143 or email LAnsel@CityOfNorthPort.com to discuss.
Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Disc Golf Course
About the project
At the June 28, 2022 City Commission Regular Meeting, construction of a nine-hole disc golf course along the Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway was approved to proceed. On July 12, 2022, City Commission approved the award of Purchase Order 049449 to Jon F. Swift Construction in the amount of $142,412.28 for the construction of the course. Funding for this project was allocated from a combination of parks impact fees and surtax.
In September of 2022, clearing for the course has been completed, with the locations for the tees and baskets staked out. The project is anticipated to open in Spring 2023. A formal ribbon cutting will be scheduled upon completion of the project.
Concept
The proposed nine-hole course meets the guidelines established by the Professional Disc Golf Association and is designed to include a footprint that has minimal impact to the environment. The course will be accessible to all ages and abilities, between sunrise and sunset daily. The course will not require lighting, electricity, or utilities and will be located along the Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway and North Port Blvd., between Greenwood Ave. and Appomattox Blvd.
Sponsorship opportunities
Are you interested in sponsoring a tee for this project? Contact Laura Ansel, Marketing and Engagement Coordinator, at 941-429-7143 or email LAnsel@NorthPortFL.gov to discuss.
Contact
For more information, please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 941-429-PARK(7275) or email Parks@NorthPortFL.gov.
Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Nature Trail
About the Project
On June 28, 2022, City Commission approved the award of RFB #2022-23 for construction of the Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Nature Trail to Gale Construction of Illinois for $1,908,812.07. A ceremonial groundbreaking is currently scheduled for September 2. This project is funded by park impact fees, surtax, and a developer contribution of $141,646.
This one-mile passive walking trail is the first phase of the Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Master Plan that was approved in 2007. The accessible trail has been engineered to avoid wetland impacts wherever possible, minimize overlap with the existing primitive bike trail, mitigate the impact to existing vegetation and native trees, and preserve and enhance the natural scenic features along the greenway. Construction timeline is estimated between 12-18 months, pending weather conditions.
Location
The trail will be located adjacent to the Myakkahatchee Creek providing a linear park experience to residents and serving as a safe pedestrian connection between West Price Boulevard and Appomattox Boulevard.
Contact
For more information, please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 941-429-PARK(7275) or email Parks@CityOfNorthPort.com.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
The City of North Port has created a Parks and Recreation Master Plan(PDF, 12MB) that consists of a comprehensive analysis of the entire City parks and recreation system and provides recommendations for the future delivery of services over the next 10 years.
The project to create the Master Plan started in May 2015 in conjunction with Sarasota County’s efforts to create a countywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The two plans, although different, tie into each other. North Port’s plan, however, is distinctly for the North Port community. On April 26, 2016, the City Commission accepted the Parks & Recreation Master Plan for the City of North Port as a work product. On January 9, 2018, the City Commission approved the Master Plan with changes. View the final Parks and Recreation Master Plan(PDF, 12MB).
For more information, contact the City’s Parks and Recreation Department at (941) 429-PARK(7275).
Parks & Recreation Master Plan Appendices