Rowing Park Design Changes Approved

County commissioners have unanimously approved changes to the rowing facility at Nathan Benderson park.

The changes are designed to make the course the only one of its kind in North America. Changes were made at the suggestion of FISA, an international rowing federation.

Creating a massive island at the northwest corner of the lake was the biggest change. Instead of having the events center attached to the mainland, the island creates a canal that allows the rowers to row back to the starting point without getting out of the water and walking back.

Steve Anderson with Sarasota County Public Works said this canal would ensure races could be run every five minutes.

“All these newly [FISA] sanctioned rowing courses have this [canal],” Anderson said. “It is highly suggested that this is [added] into the plan for our project to ensure that we can be sanctioned.”

“That return canal is required by FISA,” said Benderson Development project manager Paul Blackketter. “If we provide that return canal, we are one of the most unique courses around the world.”

Blackketter said before he presented to the county commission on Tuesday his team considers all parties that use the lake: rowers, kayakers, dragon boats, canoes and the general public.

He said these changes are necessary and are the final pieces to the puzzle.

“When we meet with these folks now, it’s move that two inches over here, make sure you have six feet not seven,” he said.

“We are there, we have arrived. We are not going to have to comeback and redo something" with these changes.

If sanctioned, Anderson said the rowing facility could host national, international and Olympic rowing events.

Costs for phase one and phase two total $19.5 million. Anderson said parts of the original plan would have to be pushed back in order to make the desired design changes.

Other changes include:

• Two bridges will have to be built from Cattleman Road to the events center island.
• Improved landscape that will serve as a buffer to nearby residential neighborhoods
• Warm-up Buoy System
• Sand Beach Area
• Park Wi-Fi
• Additional Hardscape Elements

“[We will] modify that list in our original agreement to meet the $19.5 million budget,” Anderson said. “We will delay some items from the original scope to make way for the new items and [would] incorporate those for future phases.”

Delayed Designed Plans that will be pushed into Phase III

• Nature Center
• Fitness Stations and Water Garden Park Areas
• 80% of South Lake Wave Attenuation
• Non ADA required Hardscape Components throughout Park
• Wooden View Decks and Boardwalks in wetland
• Concrete sidewalks (except on Island)  
• Maximum site landscaping on Island and throughout Park areas (does not include reduction to vegetative buffering)

The motion approved by commissioners on Tuesday also authorizes Benderson to continue with 30 percent design and guaranteed maximum price deliverables.

“This is not just a rowing facility,” said commissioner Joe Barbetta. “When we are done with this, this will be state of the art.”

Barbetta said he has already seen a positive impact in the county’s youth because of the lake. He said it is getting more children involved and Sarasota county rowing teams are winning medals across the country.

Commissioner Chair Nora Patterson, who supported the motion, cautioned that since the county has pushed back some of the original plans some of those features will have to rely on outside contributions.

“We are placing an awful high level of faith in private contribution and state monies [for phase III] on this,” Patterson said. “I would urge those who really care about this to stay involved. We don’t have a pot of gold.”

Going forward, the 2000-meter course is expected to be operational by March 2012, which is just in time for the next rowing season. Dredging and earthmoving operations begin in Spring 2012, as well.

Phase I and II improvements are slated to be completed by Spring of 2013.