Graced with magnificent sunsets, expansive views of the Sarasota Bay, and rich layers of cultural history, 53-acres of publicly owned land in Sarasota is the subject of a year-long master plan driven by the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization and led by Sasaki. Gina Ford is the project’s design lead, helping to orchestrate both the community conversation and the master planning design process in deep collaboration with Sasaki and a team of experts.
Community engagement is central to the master planning effort. Community open houses, online engagement, stakeholder focus groups, site tours, community forums and youth / young professional charrettes are just a few ways the planning team is facilitating the conversation. The master planning process, which launched in December of 2017, will conclude in September of 2018 with a presentation to the City’s Commission.
Central to the master plan are a series of community-driven principles established to help guide this effort. These call for aspirational planning, improved connectivity, integrated economic strategy, and activation, all while respecting and honoring both the natural and cultural heritage. The preliminary master planning scenarios, presented in the Spring of 2018, showcase wildly different physical strategies to accomplish these goals.
Stay tuned for updates on the Sarasota Bayfront Master Plan!
Select Awards
BSLA Merit Award in Analysis and Planning, 2021
ASLA Florida Chapter, Design Award, 2021
AIA Gulf Coast Chapter, Merit Award in Unbuilt Design, 2020
