Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/136775
Sarasota News Leader June 14, 2013 Page 29 ture in the USA, would allow Sarasota County of time, Barbetta continued, to entice them to to host a myriad of national events while also buy vacation homes or even consider relocatproviding a training venue to BMX Olympi- ing businesses to the community. ans." "I agree, Commissioner Barbetta," ChairwomIf the county completed those renovations, an Carolyn Mason said. Barbetta said on June 12, "I think we would be pretty much assured of several … BMX MORE ATHLETIC FIELDS events in the community with a pretty good Then Commissioner Christine Robinson pointeconomic impact." ed out that the materials the board members He estimated the competitions at the park received for that May 14 budget workshop incould bring in $3.5 million to $4 million a year. dicated the county had no plans for the next several years to construct new athletic fields; The estimated cost of the renovations is $1.75 million, with about $1 million left unfunded, yet, those fields "serve dual purposes, and we Barbetta added. "I would implore my fellow need them from county line to county line for commissioners to look into this as a revenue recreation and competitions." generator." Robinson added that, based on the May 14 disMoreover, Barbetta said, "The participants in cussion, the only capital need the commission BMX events usually don't drive cars, so that would be underfunding for the next five years means their parents come here, and they're would be road resurfacing." here five, six, seven days at a time, and they "The bridges," Commissioner Nora Patterson spend money." interjected. "[We] took care of about half" of Those families also potentially would learn them with funding allocations at the May 14 enough about Sarasota County in that period meeting, Patterson pointed out. Benderson Park, off University Parkway, is being designed for major triathlons as well as world-class rowing competitions. Image courtesy Sarasota County