Skip to main content

PETITION TO PRESERVE PAYNE PARK

807 Comments

C
Caden Males Peters
7 years ago

men males men head boys males

W
Wendy leventhal
7 years ago

Payne park has been a beautiful park for area residents. My children have grown up with the park and there are fewer and fewer open areas for our residents. We absolutely love the orchestra however taking away the park for the people and adding additional traffic to an already congested area doesn't make sense. Why not put ot on the new bayfront arts area?

M
Meg Ferlise
7 years ago

Preserve Payne Park

J
Janice Sladzinski
7 years ago

Payne Park is the worst location the Orchestra could select. It destroys green space. It is in a congested area.

A
Anonymous
7 years ago

There has been way too much development in downtown Sarasota. Open space parkland should be preserved.

R
Robin Wells
7 years ago

Bad idea. Bad for traffic. Need to keep the space for future park needs in a growing city.

L
Larry
7 years ago

It is unbelievable that destroying a city green space in an area that is already experiencing growth with Payne Park Village, the old Ringling Shopping Center land, and the upcoming Legacy Trail is even being discussed. From my viewpoint, it seems big money talks and drowns out common sense. Once this Sarasota gem of Payne Park begins being encroached upon, there’s no turning back. Proceeding with placing the orchestra building at this site would be detrimental to the area, and I believe, detrimental to future big money endowments to SRQ. After all, if the city doesn’t honor the original intentions of the Payne Park gift to the city, why would future donors feel compelled to gift SRQ, thinking their wishes would not be honored? I love the orchestra and wish them continued success. Just take a step back and have a more long term vision. Explore other viable sites. Payne Park is not that site.

R
Richard F Martin
7 years ago

Commissioner/Mayor 2001-2005

M
Mike Sersen
7 years ago

I just want to say, I frequently go to Payne Park and find it the only real true place to find a sense of aesthetic refreshment amidst the jumble of condos and noise in the heart of down town Sarasota. The park's aesthetic setting is a fact that offers a price beyond any cultural venue's value. The wildlife, too, what with the mockingbirds and American moorehens rearing their young, to the whistling ducks and white ibises skittering along the ponds, as well as the turtles and fish thriving therein; all offer a back to nature feeling that should be forever preserved. I, therefore, stand against such a callous proposal and highly appreciate and applaud your stance, too, and the brave leadership of Hagen Brody.

D
Dan Olson
7 years ago

The history of Payne Park was to always remain a park- and so it should remain for the citizens of Sarasota city and county to enjoy. With all of the development in the city core - green space is even more essential. An idea - put the proposed building at the site of the fairgrounds, It would be a huge improvement for that area. It would showcase Fruitville Road, which has a designation of the gateway to downtown Sarasota.

S
Susan Behuniak
7 years ago

We need MORE not less public green space. It is becoming difficult to see the sky in Sarasota given the newest of the towering buildings. There are plenty of places to build a new PRIVATE theater: consider any of the former malls that UTC has destroyed. I love music, but it can be located anywhere. A park rarely rises from concrete; the origins of Payne Park is an exception and the people are entitled to their public park to remain a park.

T
Tony Jones
7 years ago

Build it where the vanwezel is there's plenty of space there,I love music but this is ridiculous. No no no!!

D
Douglas Dancer
7 years ago

Keep the green space and recreation as dictated in the Deed.

R
Robert Bailey
7 years ago

The symphony use is NOT an authorized use of the space under the CLEAR Language of the land grant. If the City government allows the distorted Symphony use, the Approving Commissioners should be charged with participating in a fraud.

J
Joyce O
7 years ago

This park is a hidden gem in Sarasota. The green space, walks, and playground are exceptional. The tennis center provides a home for many league teams as well as an inexpensive alternative to private clubs in the area. The City of Sarasota should not change it's intended use.

L
Lindsey
7 years ago

PRESERVE THIS PARK. STOP DESTROYING THE PLACES THAT MAKE LIVING HERE SO GREAT.

R
Robin Murray
7 years ago

I have two kids that have made this park their second home. We need this space to stay Green!!!

L
LORI-NAN MIHALEY
7 years ago

This seems like a huge overstep to what the Payne family intended when they donated this restricted space to the community. We have gone down this road before but it keeps showing it's nasty head

J
Judy Garver
7 years ago

Too much construction has already taken Sarasota's green space. Too many developments have been built right up to the sidewalks without allotting any landscaping or green areas. We must keep Payne Park as a place of peace.

J
Janice Kruse
7 years ago

Please do not allow a portion of Payne Park to be taken over by the Orchestra for private use. This is a "park" to be used by ALL citizens, not just concert-goers. This city NEEDS its public park. Too much commercial bldg. has taken place and we need a park ALL citizens can utilize.