Sarasota County to celebrate Siesta Beach grand opening
SARASOTA COUNTY – The community is invited to come see what’s new at the country’s No. 1 beach as Sarasota County hosts a Siesta Beach grand opening celebration at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.
The morning will be filled with an opening ceremony, entertainment, refreshments, recreational activities, kids’ crafts, beach sports and more. This family-friendly, free celebration marks the completion of Sarasota County’s $21.5 million Siesta Beach improvements project.
“This event is the culmination of years of hard work by multiple county departments working together as one team, along with our project partners and with input from the community,” said County Administrator Tom Harmer. “Sarasota County is excited to celebrate the project’s completion with our residents and visitors from all over the world.”
The celebration will include an opportunity for visitors to join a walking tour along the new Siesta Beach esplanade to see all of the amenities and learn more about them from guests stationed along the way. The tour begins at 10 a.m., and participants can grab a special passport to be stamped at each stop, with an opportunity to win a prize at the end.
Improvements at Siesta Beach include the historic pavilion, pedestrian esplanade, Siesta Sun Deck, updated playground and family picnic areas, life safety building and more.
“A great amount of careful planning went into this project, and the investment made by our community has resulted in a world-class park,” said Sarasota County Commission Chairman Alan Maio. “The new amenities are on par with Siesta Beach’s reputation as the best beach in the country, if not the world.”
In addition to being a major tourist attraction, Siesta Beach is also a community park that hosts numerous events throughout the year, including the annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic international sand sculpting competition and the popular Sandy Claws Beach Run.
“One of our goals as a county is to promote quality of life, and having an amazing park like Siesta Beach is a major reason so many people love to live here and visit,” said Carolyn Brown, director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.
Siesta Beach is located at 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net.
About Siesta Beach
Siesta Beach, located in Sarasota County, has earned numerous national and international accolades, including being voted “No. 1 Beach in the U.S.” in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards and being named the No. 1 Beach in America by “Dr. Beach” in 2011. It has also earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, thanks in part to its fine white sands composed of 99 percent pure quartz, which stays cool even on a hot, sunny day. Shallow water near the shoreline, a variety of amenities and year-round lifeguard protection make this beach a favorite for residents and visitors alike. Siesta Beach is also a National Healthy Beach, and it is certified as a “Blue Wave” beach by the Clean Beaches Council.
