PETITION TO PRESERVE PAYNE PARK

Don't let a few wealthy people get away with demanding this outrageous paving of precious green space.

PRESERVE PAYNE PARK

this park is well-utilized; it is the largest green space downtown; proposing to build a concert hall and parking lot there - especially as there is a wetland area and the city is increasing in density - is an outrage. How is it possible that this is even being considered!!

NO NO NO to the desecration of Payne Park.

Why would the orchestra want to cause animosity towards themselves by harming a city jewel such as Payne Park?

“Park” means PARK! Stop paving over Mother Nature!! Seriously!!!

I am pro orchestra and pro Payne Park but put the orchestra over at Roberts or somewhere else! The very least that we, as a community, could do is to simply respect the wishes of the Payne Family, who were gracious enough to donate the land TO BE A PUBLIC PARK, and keep it as precious green space desperately needed in an otherwise urban environment. Payne Park already has a FREE orchestra that performs 24/7/365 in the form of the birds singing, children playing the instruments in the playground, dogs barking, ducks quacking, fountains flowing, wind blowing in the trees, etc and it’s always in tune! The Payne family certainly did not envision a concrete, steel, and glass box covering 20% of the FREE PUBLIC PARK. Open green spaces are essential for both mental and physical health. Keep Payne Park FREE and GREEN (and don’t use Round Up in the park either!)!

Keep the park as the Payne family requested with kindness of donating this land. The park is used for many different things that are great for Sarasota

The development of an SRQ Orchestra/Opera venue on Payne Park property would be a shame and travesty to our community. Sarasota is fortunate to have an abundance of natural wildlife, which is well represented in the land adjacent to and surrounding Payne Park tennis courts. Why destroy this land and the amazing natural habitat when other logical options are available. Why not pursue the old G Whiz property that sits vacant? Wouldn't it make more sense to place a new SRQ Orchestra house in that area given several hotels are within walking distance and it would be near other entertainment arenas, The Van Wezel and The Players Theatre? Or perhaps pursue the property just south of and adjacent to the old Sarasota High School (to become the Sarasota Museum when completed?) Give credence to the value natural wildlife brings to our environment and do not under estimate the importance it plays in making our community one that is desired. Thank you in advance for making a smart choice that is considerate of all constituents, including nature's gifts to us.

We need Payne park to remain open space. So important to have this in the city .

please leave the courts where they are. parking is already difficult.

Preserve Payne Park for all.

Resist the Orchestra's spurious claims that climate change demands that it be permitted to pave over Payne Park. First, losing green space is no antidote to climate change. Second, if the Orchestra needs higher ground, let is move to Robarts. Finally, the Orchestra's insistence that the "show must go on" in the face of a flooded/uninhabitable Bayfront (which will also mean a flooded/uninhabitable Siesta Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, and Longboat Key) is sickeningly arrogant. If the Bayfront is underwater, Orchestra patrons will have issues to confront far more serious than attending performances.

Love Payne Park, and it's obvious that meny people do. Let keep it for the people.

The city of Sarasota can't afford to lose anymore Green SPACE. Write your City Commissioners and come to the May 20th meeting at Sarasota City Hall!

There is too little green space in downtown Sarasota. Payne Park's green space needs to be preserved. 53 acres in the redevelopment plan around the Van Wezel is available and should continue to be a good place for the Orchestra.

Payne Park needs to be preserved as it is. The SRQ Orchestra must NOT take space in Payne Park. This drastically diminishes GREEN SPACE in Sarasota and we urgently need to protect our wildlife

Bribing the tennis community with the possibility of improving that facility is NOT a fair trade for destroying the nature and essence of Payne Park in its entirety. Please Preserve Payne Park as a recreational and green space, a gem in the city! The Orchestra needs to look elsewhere!

Payne Park was donated to the City of Sarasota in 1925 with the deed stipulating that the land be used for “park, playground, or kindred uses, and for no other use or purpose”. In the 1990’s, the City invested an estimated $20 million plus of tax-payer dollars to rehabilitate and create the beautiful park that exists today. Payne Park is a refuge of beautiful green space in a congested urban environment. The Orchestra’s proposal is self-centered and short-sighted. The Orchestra has opted out of the collaborative Bayfront development plan, choosing instead to make a land grab for cheap City park land and a nearby Sarasota County parking garage. This reduces the cost of its construction plan by tens of millions of dollars using tax-payer assets. It is unconscionable for the Orchestra to destroy this beautiful park. Please email the city commissioners directly and tell them you oppose this appalling plan. Mayor Email: [email protected] Vice-Mayor Email: [email protected] Commissioner Emails: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] City Manager Email: [email protected]

Please do not cement over the beautiful lakes and preserve this area for the birds and animals!!!!!!!!