Regional sports park set? Wellfield Park renovation plan OK'd; funding is not

VENICE — The Sarasota County Commission has approved multi-phase plans to renovate Wellfield Park in Venice into a regional sports park.

While all commissioners were on board with the plans, some questioned the total price tag, which is still unknown.

The idea of using tourism-related revenue was suggested to be the key to affording it but no official decisions were made.

Tuesday's unanimous vote means that county staff's master concept plan for the now named Wellfield Park Regional Sports Complex is officially approved and they can start progressing toward a technical design of the first phase.

The next step is another vote in November to approve Phase 1's design. Then staff will bring back an official rendering of it with more details about pricing around June 2027.

For now, Phase 1 includes expanding the croquet area and adding baseball fields and soccer fields, though the end goal is a much bigger makeover for the beloved Venice sports park.

The project headed by the county aims to address issues including road connectivity, lack of parking, underused land and fragmented field layouts for at least five sports.

County staff said the total price tag, initially reported as $40 million, is now estimated to be much higher than originally thought, which has some officials worried.

While she understands the sports park is the "heart of the community," Commissioner Teresa Mast wants to make sure the county stays within what it can afford.

"I think the bottom line needs to be the realistic conversation about how much can actually be constructed and put in place in that original budget," Mast said.

With the weight of Amendment 3, a property tax reform on November's ballot, looming over the county's head, Commissioner Joe Neunder said he feels many projects like the sports park's renovation could be impacted if it passes.

"This is going to be make-or-break for a lot of things, and certainly the conversation has to be held on this particular project," he said.

But Neunder sees Wellfield Park as a priority, a project he said will benefit the entire community, from softball teams to hotels and small business owners.

He suggested "exhausting all financial avenues" to fund the project, like using the county's Tourist Development Tax dollars.

The tax is a 6% charge on the revenue from rentals of six months or less and can only be used for promotion, beach maintenance and re-nourishment, the arts, the sports stadium and the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center.

In 2025, the county had collected around $47.4 million of the tax, according to the county tax collector's office.

No other commissioner voiced their support of Neunder's suggestion but all agreed the park is a priority for them to fix.

The first phase is still at the concept phase right now, meaning there is room for adjustments. A few commissioners already had a few suggestions.

Tom Knight is concerned about Venice Little League, specifically what were to happen if the city of Venice's agreement with the organization that ends in 2029 is not renewed.

Currently, the group plays out of Chuck Reiter Park on the island, which the county operates, until it can be relocated to Wellfield.

But Knight said the park's fields are in "dire need" of significant improvements now, and though it's not in the county's responsibility, he believes that the county should take into account the future of the league.

"It's (Chuck Reiter Park) becoming almost like Wellfield," Knight said.

He suggested the two flex fields proposed for Wellfield's renovation act as an alternative for Little League if they need it, a move staff said is already in motion.

Knight also raised concern for how the first phase will impact girl's softball season but staff assured him that they are narrowing down a window of time for construction and phasing that will limit his concern of a "scheduling nightmare."

The first phase will preserve flexibility for Little League and fast-pitch softball through a large field, two flexible fields and future practice space, said Shelby Hoffman, county division manager for sports, tourism, facilities and programs.

For now, Wellfield Park is the park officials are focusing on.

"I hope everybody out there hears us that this park's important for the community, and we want to give it to you," Knight said.