Parks & Recreation Master Plan
We are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and active community through thoughtful planning and strategic investments in North Port’s parks and recreation system. On Dec. 9, 2025, the City Commission adopted the North Port Parks & Recreation Master Plan, marking an important step in shaping the future of parks and recreation citywide. As part of our commitment to enriching the lives of residents through exceptional parks, facilities and programs, this Master Plan serves as a long-range roadmap for caring for existing parks, planning new spaces and expanding recreation opportunities as the community continues to grow. It looks beyond today’s needs to ensure future investments are thoughtful, sustainable and aligned with what residents value most.
At its core, the plan reflects the department’s vision to be a recognized leader in providing parks, facilities and programs that increase wellness and enrich life experiences within the community. It also reinforces the mission to promote healthy and socially rewarding activities through the preservation of cultural resources and the provision of diverse, high-quality parks and natural spaces.
The planning process was rooted in listening and learning. It began with a comprehensive look at the current parks system, including an inventory of facilities, service levels and existing conditions. From there, the focus shifted to identifying opportunities, gathering community input and exploring future needs. Visioning sessions helped establish guiding principles, which ultimately shaped an implementation strategy that includes recommendations for park types, land acquisition, capital improvements and funding considerations.
Community voices played a key role throughout the process. Residents, stakeholders and partners shared feedback through surveys, public workshops and focus groups, helping ensure the plan reflects both current users and those who may engage with parks and programs in the future.
Today, North Port’s parks and recreation system includes 29 site across the city, along with cornerstone facilities such as the Morgan Family Community Center, George Mullen Activity Center, North Port Aquatic Center and Warm Mineral Springs Park. The Master Plan builds on this foundation while looking ahead to new connections, improved amenities and expanded access to nature.
Looking forward, the Master Plan provides a flexible framework to guide decision-making over the coming years. It supports strategic growth, prioritizes quality of life and ensures parks and recreation continue to play a meaningful role in bringing people together, supporting wellness and preserving the natural character that makes North Port unique.
Residents are encouraged to explore the full Master Plan to learn more about the vision, recommendations and next steps for North Port Parks and Recreation.
North Port Parks & Recreation Master Plan(PDF, 302MB)
Historical Information
Master Plan Historical Information
During the April 3, 2025, City Commission Special Meeting, Commission approved the award of Request for Proposal No. 2025-16 - Professional Services for Parks & Recreation Master Plan to GAI Consultants, Inc. in the amount of $249,665. Funded by Park Impact Fees, the project scope includes development of a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan that emphasizes sustainability, accessibility, community cohesion, and placemaking taking into consideration the growing needs of North Port as the largest city in Sarasota County in both land mass and population. The plan will also focus on economic development opportunities through eco-tourism by exploring new opportunities to leverage North Port’s unique natural features, in addition to enhancing the city’s existing parks and recreation offerings. Although the existing Parks & Recreation Master Plan, approved in FY 2018, was intended to be a ten-year guiding document, record growth within the City has resulted in portions of the plan already being outdated.
Parks & Recreation Master Plan - FY 2018
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