Sarasota County’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) is committed to providing outstanding natural areas, distinctive sports facilities and safe recreational areas that cater to people of all ages and abilities. Our diverse offerings, including playgrounds, beaches, trails, natural areas, sports complexes and recreation centers offer residents and visitors countless ways to stay active and healthy.
As our community continues to grow in both population and tourism, it’s vital to offer a wide range of recreational opportunities, varied facilities, improved operational efficiency and strong communication channels.
To steer the implementation of goals laid out in the Parks, Preserves, and Recreation Strategic Master Plan (Master Plan), PRNR has crafted a 5-year strategic plan. This plan is closely tied to Sarasota County’s Comprehensive Plan and the 2025 Enterprise Strategic Plan, ensuring alignment with broader community objectives. The PRNR Strategic Plan addresses the key challenges facing the department and provides a clear path to meet the needs of our growing community, all while protecting our resources for future generations.
NICOLE RISSLER
Director, Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
2024
AGENCY
AWARDS
AND RECOGNITIONS ACCREDITATIONS
Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) Reaccreditation
American Camp Association (ACA)
American Public Works Association (APWA) Accreditation AWARDS
Small Park of the Year by The Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association | Turtle Beach Campground
National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) | Outstanding Support Organization | Friends of Phillippi Estate Park
Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA) | Public Relations (Electronic) | Natural Areas Story Map
The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects | Honor Award of Excellence New Work to Seibert Architects (Architect of Record) and Guy Peterson OFA (Conceptual Design) | Nora Patterson Bay Island Park Restroom Pavilion
No. 1 Beach in the United States by TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice™ Awards (2025, 2020, 2017 and 2015); No. 2 Beach in the United States by TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice™ Awards (2024, 2023 and 2022) | Siesta Beach
1
OUR MISSION
To provide clean, safe and inclusive parks with diverse opportunities for all.
OUR VISION
A dynamic parks system that is essential to quality of life and enriches our community through participation, connection and diverse recreational opportunities.
OUR VALUES
Stewardship, Preservation, Innovation, Respect, Inclusivity, Teamwork, Sustainability, Health and Wellness
PARK OPERATIONS
FY24 FAST FACTS
FY24 ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET
$41,531,084
FY24 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS (FTE)
233
FY24 DIRECT VOLUNTEER HOURS
(Volunteer services provided directly through the department’s volunteer program guidelines; authorized by staff.)
222,246
PRNR DIVISIONS
Beaches and Water Access; Business Operations; Natural Areas and Trails; Parks Internal Operations; Park Planning and Development; Recreation and Neighborhood Parks; and Sports Tourism, Facilities and Programs
In the following pages, the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department’s Strategic Plan is divided into sections. Each section outlines the goals, objectives and ways to measure progress (performance measures) as well as how they align with Sarasota County’s Comprehensive Plan, the Sarasota County 2025 Enterprise Strategic Plan and the Sarasota County Parks, Preserves and Recreation Strategic Master Plan.
SARASOTA COUNTY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Element 2: Quality of Life
Chapter 2: Parks, Preserves and Recreation
SARASOTA COUNTY 2025 ENTERPRISE STRATEGIC PLAN
PRNR 2025-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN
Exceptional County Services Aligned with Resources
SARASOTA COUNTY MISSION AND VISION
ENTERPRISE STRATEGIC PLAN
High Performing County Team World-Class Quality of Life Amenities
Safe Place to Live, Work and Play Robust, Growing Business Opportunities
Enterprise-level Actions and Major Projects
PRNR STRATEGIC PLAN
Protect, manage and promote natural and cultural resources within the parks system
Provide recreational, cultural and tourism opportunities and venues that align with the varying needs, abilities and desires of our community and visitors
Create a dynamic organization committed to engaging the community through well-trained and engaged staff and volunteers
Develop, maintain and enhance clean, safe, accessible parks
Department and Division-level Initiatives
PRNR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
Foster a diverse and balanced approach to meet level of service goals with a focus on sustainability
Preservation | Sustainability | Innovation | Stewardship | Respect | Teamwork | Inclusivity | Health and Wellness
STEWARDSHIP AND PRESERVATION
GOAL
Protect, manage and promote natural and cultural resources within the parks system
Objectives
• Provide educational and environmental outreach activities for the community
• Develop, or review and update management strategies to align with best practices, and maintain and restore ecological function of natural areas
• Utilize appropriate funding and staffing to purchase and manage natural areas
• Develop long-term funding strategies to support proper resource management activities
• Develop or update management plans to new unit management plan template ENTERPRISELEVEL GOAL World-Class Quality of Life Amenities
Measures
1. Number of nature-based education and environmental programs or virtual events
Target = 14 events per month
2. Number of acres burned in the Prescribed Fire Program
Target = 7,500 acres of natural areas treated with prescribed fire per year
Targets per Quarter:
Q1 = 200 per month
Q2 = 300 per month
Q3 = 1,000 per month
Q4 = 1,000 per month
STEWARDSHIP AND PRESERVATION
3. Reduce number of natural area acres identified as “backlogged” in the Prescribed Fire Program
Targets per Quarter:
Q1 = 30 per month
Q2 = 120 per month
Q3 = 56 per month
Q4 = 68 per month
4. Number of acres treated for known infestations of non-native plants
• Include Natural Areas and Trails, Beaches and Water Access, Recreation and Neighborhood Parks locations, as applicable
• Annual treatment goal is 10% of known infestations
Target = Monthly treatment of 100 acres of known infestations
DIVERSE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
ENTERPRISELEVEL GOAL
Safe Place to Live, Work and Play
GOAL
Provide recreational, cultural and tourism opportunities and venues that align with the varying needs, abilities and desires of our community and visitors
Objectives
• Manage and update the Recreation Programming Plan based on a regular evaluation of community input, recreation trends, county demographic statistics and available resources
• Build relationships and enhance programs with community partners, leagues, users and volunteers
• Promote sports and eco-tourism within Sarasota County
• Expand programming and public access to increase annual participation and utilization rates of parks and facilities
Nathan Benderson Park
Measures
1. Activity enrollment
Targets:
January = 1,500 July = 750
February = 750 August = 1,000
March = 2,000 September = 1,250
April = 750 October = 1,000
May = 250 November = 300
June = 250 December = 400
2. Interior space participants
Target = 23,000 per month
3. $ value of economic impact from sporting events
(Past 12 months)
Target = $100,000,000 per year
4. Participants in rentals at campground
Target = 2,625 per month
5. Pass visits
Target: 1,950 per month
6. Utilization of athletic fields
Target = 68% per quarter
DIVERSE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
7. Estimated number of interior and exterior participants reported on reservation permits excluding athletic fields
Targets per Quarter:
Q1 = 110,000 per month
Q2 = 65,000 per month
Q3 = 73,000 per month
Q4 = 55,000 per month
8. Utilization of Turtle Beach Campground sites
Target = 90% per quarter
9. Number of trail users on The Legacy Trail
Annual target = 645,000 trail users per year
Targets per Quarter:
Q1 = 40,000 per month
Q2 = 70,000 per month
Q3 = 70,000 per month
Q4 = 35,000 per month
10. $ revenue from Knight Trail Park
Target = $14,050 per month
11. $ revenue from Phillippi Estate Park
Target = $9,100 per month
PARTICIPATION AND CONNECTION
ENTERPRISELEVEL GOALS
High Performing County Team Exceptional County Services Aligned with Resources
GOAL
Create a dynamic organization committed to engaging the community through well-trained and engaged staff and volunteers
Objectives
• Maintain accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the American Camp Association (ACA)
• Obtain periodic community needs assessments through surveys and other methods
• Evaluate programs and services based on input, trends and best practices
• Engage the community through various social media avenues
• Encourage and support the ongoing training and education of staff
• Communicate goals, objectives and expectations regularly
• Continue to identify and implement Forward Innovation Team (FIT) and related opportunities to support PRNR goals
• Provide staff the necessary tools and resources to ensure they can be successful
• Deploy annual PRNR Employee Survey
• Identify and promote volunteer opportunities and provide recognition for volunteer efforts
Measures
1. Number of customer surveys collected
Target = 300 surveys per quarter
2. Overall customer satisfaction rating
PARTICIPATION AND CONNECTION
• Respondents rank Sarasota County PRNR offerings on a 5-point scale (ranging from poor to excellent)
Target = Average cumulative score of 4.5 out of 5
3. Number of Facebook engagements with #SRQCountyParks
Target = 8,000 per month
Measures
5. Number of Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certifications
Target = 20 staff per year
PARTICIPATION
CONNECTION
6. Number of other professional certifications held (Pesticide Applicator’s License, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, Natural Areas Training Academy, Certified Prescribed Burn Manager, Turf Management, Commercial Driver’s License or similar)
Target = 100 certifications per year
7. Employee satisfaction rating (annual survey)
• Staff rank job satisfaction on a 5-point scale (Very dissatisfied to very satisfied)
Target = 4 out of 5
Summer Camp
INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
ENTERPRISELEVEL GOALS
World-Class Quality of Life Amenities
Robust, Growing Business Opportunities
Safe Place to Live, Work and Play
GOAL
Develop, maintain and enhance clean, safe, accessible parks
Objectives
• Manage contracts and vendors to ensure accountability and contract compliance
• Ensure clean, safe and accessible parks by conducting regular inspections by Internal Standards Inspection Team (ISIT) and division staff
• Maintain and develop standard operating procedures that support PRNR’s Master Plan Level of Service (LOS) Standards and tiered service delivery model
• Develop proactive and preventive maintenance planning and life cycle expectations
• Identify accessible, inclusive and age-friendly improvement opportunities
Measures
1. Completion of identified deficiencies in the PRNR ADA Transition Plan that are not associated with regular maintenance
Target = 10 per quarter
2. Turf to weed ratio reporting on athletic fields
Target = 70% or better annually
GOAL
Foster a diverse and balanced approach to meet level of service goals with a focus on sustainability
Objectives
• Develop and maintain partnerships that support the delivery of the PRNR mission
• Diversify funding sources to support operations and park improvements
• Identify alternative methods, such as expanded volunteer opportunities, to meet PRNR Master Plan Level of Service standards
• Develop and manage park properties with a focus on sustainability and resilience
• Protect and preserve ecologically sensitive undeveloped lands for their environmental value through acquisition, conservation easements and land management
Measures
1. Number of volunteer hours
• Goal is to increase overall volunteer hours by 3% annually
Target = Approximately 40,000 hours per quarter
2. Number of Sheriff’s Work Offender Program hours utilized by PRNR
Target = 3,000 hours per quarter
3. Number of court-appointed service hours utilized by PRNR
Target = 250 hours per quarter
4. $ revenue from permitted commercial vendor services
Target = $310,000 per quarter
Historic Keith Farmhouse
Measures continued...
5. Dollar value of sponsorships, donations and in-kind support
Target = $20,000 per quarter
6. $ total collected revenue
Target = $1,000,000 per quarter
7. $ value of partnerships
Target = $15,000 per quarter
8. $ value volunteers
Target = $1,000,000 per quarter
9. # of tonnage of artificial reefs
FY24: 72.85 tons
10. Increase in number of acres of park lands
FY24: 92.2 acres
11. Acres of developed parks
FY24: 5696.59 acres
12. # Acres public land protected through referenda
