LSPOA Forms Task Force to Fight Ken Thompson Park Proposal

Illustration of Ride Entertainment proposal for Ken Thompson Park

Lido Shores is taking the fight to City Hall.  What's at stake? If you haven't heard, developer Jeff Koffman and his son, with Ride Entertainment, want to turn Ken Thompson Park on City Island into a commercial, Disney-esque amusement park, complete with a 115-foot "Sky Bar" observation tower and zip lines. Not to mention a glorified putt-putt golf course and a bayfront-hogging restaurant, obliterating  the stunning city view. As proposed, it would be a "public - private" partnership, with essentially the City of Sarasota rolling over... and turning over this unspoiled space to a commercial developer.

At the Monday, February 12th LSPOA Board meeting, new President Bill Farber appointed Elliott Himelfarb (chair), Bob Thill, Denis Bischoff and Diane Desenberg to a task force to organize and spearhead opposition to this hare-brained plan. 

More than a dozen Lido Shorians attended the February 5th Sarasota City Commission meeting to hear the 7-minute presentation, and gauge the Commissioners' level of interest. Currently, of the five-member commission, two-members (Erik Arroyo and Kyle Battie) are in favor of the plan to "activate" the park. Commissioners Jen Ahearn-Koch and Debbie Trice are opposed. They see what we see: a for-profit enterprise that would add to our traffic woes and decimate the park's natural appeal.  

Mayor Liz Alpert was less strident in her support, remaining somewhat tenuously on the fence. The Commission ultimately voted to punt the issue to the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board. The Board met Thursday, February 15, but did not take up the matter. They did allow public comment, and Denis Bischoff and Bob Thill joined 14-other speakers, including the Sierra Club and the head of the CCNA, the city-wide neighborhood coalition, in expressing our opposition to the half-baked proposal.

It's not clear as of this writing, but the PREP Board as it's called, will likely take up the issue at its March meeting. They're charged with providing to the City Commission a non-binding recommendation, YES or NO, on whether to approve the proposal or not. We'll keep you posted and want to pack the City Hall Commission Chambers when the issue comes back up.

L-R:  Bob Thill, Lee Edstrom, Ken Abt, Bill Farber attend City Commission meeting

The LSPOA Task Force is also reaching out and has already received support from other stake holders, including St. Armands and Lido Key Neighborhood Associations, Longboat Key and the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. This is already turning into a city-wide uprising, as other neighborhoods can envision what privatizing public parks can potentially mean for them.  

We've  also written a letter to editor, which will appear on Sunday's Sarasota Herald Tribune Opinion page. The task force will also be engaging with all local media to shine a light on this preposterous park pitch as this saga unfolds. The task force, and several other neighbors have written emails in opposition to all City Commissioners and to all eight-members of the Parks, Recreation and environmental Protection Board.

Should we need to go the legal route, new LSPOA member John Dyson, who purchased Ed Balian's property on John Ringling Parkway, has already engaged a land-use law firm Tripp-Scott from Ft. Lauderdale, on his own dime. Why go outside Sarasota? John says eight-similar law firms in town, including the prestigious Berlin Patten firm, turned us down, apparently fearing developer reprisal.  

Bay view in Ken Thompson Park where proposed restaurant would go.

That's where we currently stand. Please let your voice be heard to keep Ken Thompson Park a free, public community and neighborhood gathering place. To maintain its peaceful ambience and essential purpose as a stormwater retention area, and a natural habitat for shore birds and mangroves.  

Could it use some improvement? Of course. More shade trees, an improved playground and park benches would be welcomed. But certainly not turning it into a for-profit carnival-style amusement center.

Bob Thill
LSPOA Communications

Here's how to reach out to the City Commissioners: commissioners@sarasotafl.gov 

And to the PREP Board members.

derin.parks@sarasotafl.gov
ted.wilson@sarasotafl.gov
ava.pysczynski@sarasotafl.gov
jimmy.glover@sarasotafl.gov
arin.copeland@sarasotafl.gov
chip.wayt@sarasotafl.gov
leon.thibeaut@sarasotafl.gov