2 Popular Parks Still Closed In Sarasota Area, 1 Opens After Hurricane

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — After Hurricane Ian battered Southwest Florida at the end of September, many parks and other natural attractions were affected by the storm, which brought powerful winds, heavy rains and strong storm surge to the area.

Nathan Benderson Park, a 600-acre multipurpose park and facility, reopened to the public Wednesday afternoon and is keeping regular park hours.

The boat ramp “isn’t open and won’t be for a while,” park staff shared in a Facebook comment.

• Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

“Be mindful that there are a few spots around the park that are marked with traffic cones or cordons, and the playground remains closed (sorry, but we need to ensure it can safely open,)” staff wrote in a Facebook post. “We’ve been eager to welcome you back!”

The venue’s annual Trick or Treat on the Lake event will take place Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event is free, but parking is $10 per vehicle on Regatta Island.

Attendees, who are asked to wear costumes, are invited to trick-or-treat along a candy trail of “not-too-spooky” booths decorated by community organizers, park staff said.

Two other popular Sarasota County parks remain closed to the public following Hurricane Ian’s hit to the region, though.

Myakka River State Park in Sarasota saw significant damage during the storm and is still closed, according to the Florida State Parks website.

“Though the road to full recovery in the park is still long, day by day, hour by hour, progress is being made in the park to repair storm damage,” the Friends of Myakka River wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. “And, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian's destruction, signs of new life are emerging: While in the park with management's permission, to support essential work, we noticed a mama raccoon and her (four) very young kits, scaling down a storm-damaged cabbage palm and up one that was still standing strong. Nature is resilient, as is Myakka — we very much appreciated this poignant moment, and we trust that you will too.”

While the park is closed to the public park staff and ranges, as well as local law enforcement, are onsite every day, the Friends group added. “As the park is officially closed, trespassers will be prosecuted.”

In North Port — one of the areas of the county hardest hit by the hurricane — Warm Mineral Springs Park also remains closed because of public safety concerns, according to a news release from the city.

The park saw “significant damage” and doesn’t meet the criteria for safely reopening, the city said.

To reopen, the facility requires the following, the city said:

• reliable power
• a safe supply of drinking water
• windows, roofs and exterior walls that prevent severe water intrusion
• working air conditioning
• indoor air quality that has been assessed by an industrial hygienist
• water quality that has been assessed by state-certified contractor from the Florida Department of Health
• storm debris must be removed and stored in a secure location
• professional assessment of buildings that deem them safe to occupy

After inspection by a structural engineer and electrical contractor, North Port’s building official condemned the Warm Mineral Springs’ building, the city said.

Because of the extended closure and the extent of the storm damage, the North Port City Commission will review the site management agreement with the vendor that operates the facility, National and State Park Concessions, Inc., at its Tuesday meeting.

“We know how passionate many of our patrons and residents are about the springs, but please, do not try to enter the facility or pass the safety fencing to get to the water,” Sandy Pfundheller, director of parks and recreation, said. “In addition to damage sustained by the buildings, there is a risk of debris in the water. These hazards may not be visible from the surface.”

City staff have continued to pursue a possible public-private partnership for the future development and enhancement of Warm Mineral Springs Park and are working on a conceptual proposal with WMS Development Group, LLC, which remains committed to the process.