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Storm debris pickup is in full swing, and the City's contractors have been hard at work! In just the first two weeks of storm debris collection (Oct. 16- 30) 123,783 Cubic Yards, or approximately 173,296 tons of debris were removed.
We're aware that many residents are struggling to fit all their debris curbside due to the impacts of the back-to-back storms. Debris collection crews are working to complete their first pass through the entire city. The community will be notified prior to the final pass.
Reminder: Storm debris collection is for storm-related waste only. Non-storm related bulk waste placed curbside will require a special pickup. To make arrangements, please call the Solid Waste Division 941-263-6170.
Residents can help expedite our community's recovery by properly sorting storm debris into separate piles: vegetative debris, construction/demolition debris, bulk items and white goods (appliances). Separating piles allows debris to be collected in a timely manner.
Curious what 173,296 tons of debris looks like? A bird's eye view of one of the City's debris management sites can be seen here.
Questions about debris pickup should be directed to the City's storm debris collection hotline: 833-947-7739.
Yard Waste: Heads up! Regular yard waste collection will resume Monday, Nov. 4. All regular yard waste preparation guidelines should be followed.
Our Parks and Recreation Department is making remarkable progress restoring our parks and green spaces to beautiful, accessible areas for everyone to enjoy. As we work diligently on cleanup and repairs, we ask visitors to use caution and adhere to any safety signage in affected parks.
Almost half of the City’s 60 parks are fully or partially open. Our parks were severely impacted by Helene and Milton and restoring so many so soon is a testament to the team’s commitment. Thank you! The photos you see here were taken this week at Dr. MLK, Jr. Park.
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Open Parks: Arlington Park, Charles Ringling Park, David Cohen Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Firehouse Park, Fredd "Glossie" Atkins Park, J.D. Hamel Park / War Memorial, Lemon Avenue Mall, Links Plaza Park, Little Five Points Park, Mary Dean Park, Nature Park at Bobby Jones, North Water Tower Park, Orange Avenue Park, Overtown Square, Paul Thorpe Park, Payne Park/Payne Skate Park, Pomelo Park, Robarts Memorial Park, Selby Five Points Park, Seminole Linear Park, St. Armands Circle Park, and The Bay.
Partially Open Parks: Some have limited access, including Centennial Park, Eastwood Park, Gillespie Park, Pioneer Park, Sapphire Shores Park and Whitaker Gateway Park.
Please note: All City recreation facilities are open except two: Lido Beach Pool, which sustained significant storm damage and the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, which is serving the community as a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center.
For more information about our parks, please visit www.LetsPlaySarasota.com
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work towards cleaning up our community spaces. Thank you for supporting our efforts to restore our parks!
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Inside the facility, major recovery efforts continue to progress. Standing water has been removed, and while electricity had been restored, a transformer issue caused a temporary setback. A generator truck is now maintaining essential systems, like air conditioning, as repairs move forward. Roof and electrical work in flood-affected areas are ongoing, and the orchestra pit lift will be fully replaced due to water damage, with parts currently being sourced.
While the Box Office is temporarily closed, we're preparing for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to reopen soon, with performances scheduled to resume in January 2025.
Kicking off the lineup are Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising Through ‘The Change’ on Jan. 4, The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston on Jan. 5, and the Broadway sensation Funny Girl from Jan. 14–19.
Although the Van Wezel is temporarily closed, tickets can still be purchased 24/7 at VanWezel.org.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in January!
The Sarasota Municipal Auditorium is continuing to serve as a FEMA Disaster Recover Center (DRC) where residents can receive one-on-one help applying for individual assistance, check the status of applications, learn about available programs to assist small business owners and more.
Each day 275-300 residents are at the DRC seeking help. Many were affected by two or three hurricanes. Due to federal rules, each storm requires a separate application for assistance, so it's very helpful to have knowledgeable FEMA representatives on site who can walk residents through the application process.
The DRC is open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You’re encouraged to arrive early in the morning.
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The Sarasota Police Department’s Marine Unit, responsible for nearly 10% of derelict vessel removals in Florida, is tackling a surge in derelict vessels along our waterways due to the active hurricane season.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton left Sarasota Bay with 35 derelict vessels, including the 90-foot vessel Indigo, which washed ashore during Milton. Working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and vessel owners, the Marine Unit is focused on removing these vessels to restore safe navigation and protect our marine environment.
SPD's Marine Unit assisted with removing this vessel from Bayfront Park.
Derelict vessels can create serious hazards -- posing collision risks, leaking pollutants and adding costly burdens on law enforcement. Each vessel is assessed and, if necessary, removed through coordinated efforts and available grant funds. The cost of removing a vessel can range from $2,000 to over $25,000, depending on the vessel’s condition and location, with funding assistance from the West Coast Inland Navigation District.
By managing these efforts locally, the SPD’s Marine Unit helps reduce the impact on taxpayers while preserving Sarasota’s waterways for all.
For further details on our derelict vessel initiatives, contact the Sarasota Police Department: 941-263-6773.
The community engagement meeting for the School Avenue Greenway Extension canceled last month due to Hurricane Milton will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the SRQ Media Studio in the City Hall Annex, 1565 First Street.
The proposed extension would connect an existing multi-recreational trail (MURT) that begins at Siesta Drive and ends at Webber Street. The continuation of the greenway would run parallel to School Avenue and provide an alternative low-stress route to U.S. 41. It also would provide a safe route to Arlington Park, Sarasota High School and many other destinations in the city.
A greenway is a path that can be used for walking or bicycling for transportation or recreation. Typically, a greenway is separated from roads, are paved or unpaved and often there is an emphasis on greenery and flora.
Expansion of the trail system throughout the city is the No. 1 priority in the City’s transportation master plan, Sarasota in Motion.
What are your preferences related to the School Avenue Greenway Extension project? What should the surface look like? What type of wayfinding should be along the greenway? What about lighting? Public Art and more? We want to hear from you!
Please take a few minutes to complete this brief online survey to help the project team understand the community’s values and preferences with the extension. Instead of questions, you’ll be asked to react to images.
More information about the School Avenue Greenway Extension is available on the project webpage at www.Sarasotafl.gov/School-Ave-Greenway
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City administrative offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Garbage and recycling collection will not be impacted by the holiday.
The Bay Runner will operate regular hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a route change from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to accommodate the annual Veterans Day Parade on Main Street.
City facility hours may vary. For a full list of modified hours, click here.
You won’t want to miss the annual Veterans Day Parade! This community celebration of our nation’s veterans will begin at 10 a.m. at Main Street & Osprey Avenue, and end at 11 a.m. at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park with a ceremony honoring all who served. Speakers include Mayor Liz Alpert, Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith and guest speaker Lt. Col. Erica Stone Gregory, a highly experienced military leader and Bronze Star Medal recipient.
We hope to see you there!
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