65 A recent photo contest shares a close-up view of life in Wellen Park. 70 For two graduating seniors at State College of Florida’s Collegiate School in Venice, their time in the dual-enrollment program is only the beginning of their promising futures. 76 The Sarasota County Fellowship of Christian Athletes is building out community programs through FCA Sports. 80 Get the details on the new Wellen Park Diamond Club certification and see the first graduating class. 82 Lakespur resident Mike Meyers and his family find picture-perfect moments in Wellen Park. 87 Parting Shot.
SPECIAL SECTION
44 Explore Wellen Park’s neighborhoods and the builder’s model homes.
CALENDAR
Take your pick of ongoing and newly added events this summer. Come to Downtown Wellen to enjoy a variety of local music, arts and family-friendly events including The Great Wellen Park Pie Bake Off on June 28. Turn to page 59 for upcoming events.
EXPLORE
8 Wellen Park President Rick Severance shares key updates on development in the community. 11 Development has begun on new parks and trails in Wellen Park. 18 Every summer, CoolToday Park hosts the Florida Complex League Braves, with attendance free of charge to baseball fans of all ages. 22 Angela Stinnett, GM of Acqua Pazza in Downtown Wellen Park, shares how the restaurant has grown since it first opened–and how she’s become an accidental chocolatier. 28 With a facility that caters to horses, competitors and spectators, TerraNova truly is for everyone. 36 Racket sports are uniting Wellen Park residents in nearby clubs. 38 Local pool builders and industry experts talk about what’s making a splash on the pool design front.
Welcome to your new friend: Wellen Park Living. You’ll find stories about the people behind fun-loving experiences in the neighborhood and beyond, sips and forkfuls of scrumptious food and crafted beverages and ways to soak in the abundant outdoor adventures just around the corner.
ACQUA PAZZA
Perfecting the experience THIS PAGE Playground photo courtesy of KOMPAN. Acqua Pazza photography by Wyatt Kostygan | SRQ MEDIA COVER
EXPLORE THE PARKS Park 87 features a custom-built playground equipment with a unique fire station theme.
Dear Wellen Park Community,
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Developer’s Update
It’s a true pleasure to share this inaugural developer’s update as we continue to shape and grow the incredible community we all call home. Wellen Park is more than just a place—it’s a lifestyle, and I’m honored to be part of a team that’s committed to enhancing every aspect of it. Looking ahead, we have exciting plans in motion. Over the next year, we’ll be introducing new parks and trails designed for all ages and interests. From a dedicated Paw Park for your four-legged companions to serene nature trails perfect for family outings, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and explore.
Our community continues to expand thoughtfully with several new residential neighborhoods launching across Wellen Park. One of the most exciting additions is a new waterfront apartment and townhome community just steps from Downtown Wellen. We’re also thrilled to announce that a brand-new Tribute hotel is set to break ground by Memorial Day—bringing even more vibrancy and hospitality to our growing destination.
We’re also proud to welcome HCA Florida Healthcare to Wellen Park with the opening of a new freestanding emergency room. This state-of-the-art facility will provide accessible, high-quality emergency care just minutes from home—o ering peace of mind for our residents and surrounding neighborhoods.
In support of our community’s youngest residents and growing families, we’re thrilled to announce that Primrose School and Prodigy Early Learning have both joined the Wellen Park family. These highly respected early education centers o er exceptional learning environments that combine academic excellence with nurturing care. Their openings have helped meet the growing demand for high-quality childcare and early education right within our community.
Now, I know many of you are eagerly awaiting updates on the retailers and o ce spaces coming to Phase II of Downtown. I hear this question often—and trust me, I can’t wait to share the full lineup with you. But I want to ensure the timing is right and the details are solid before making a big announcement. So, keep an eye out for my next letter—it might just have the answers you’re waiting for! Thank you for being such an important part of Wellen Park. This community thrives because of you, and I’m truly grateful for your continued support and enthusiasm.
Warmest regards,
Rick Severance | President, Wellen Park
CEO / PRESIDENT
EDITOR IN CHIEF
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
LISL LIANG
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
WES ROBERTS
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT Ashley Grant
ACCOUNTS + CLIENT SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Robinson Valverde
SENIOR SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Suzanne Munroe
SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Nichole Knutson
Rob Wardlaw
VP OF PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO
Wyatt Kostygan
MANAGING EDITOR Barbie Heit
SENIOR EDITOR
Dylan Campbell
CLIENT MARKETING+ DIGITAL PROGRAMS MANAGER
Gabriella Alfonso
SOCIAL MEDIA, MARKETING + EVENTS MANAGER
Lauren Sutter
MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Solymar Estrella
CONTRIBUTING SENIOR DESIGNER
Virginia Jankovsky
CREATIVE PROJECTS ASSOCIATE
Jennifer Villagomez
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS + ARTISTS
Daniel Wagner, Kate Wight
PUBLISHED BY SRQ MEDIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLEN PARK
FOR ADVERTISING OR DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES, CONTACT US, WELLENPARK@SRQME.COM
EXPLORE
Pathways to Connection
Development has begun on new parks and trails in Wellen Park.
WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN
trails
Outdoor enthusiasts prepare to be immersed in nature with the addition of three new parks and approximately 10 miles of nature trails coming soon to Wellen Park.
THE NEW RECREATIONAL AREAS WILL BE LOCATED close to new and existing neighborhoods and Downtown Wellen and will complement Wellen Park’s existing parks and expansive trail network, while underscoring the community’s commitment to providing fitness and wellness opportunities and natural interactions for every age. Site work and construction are currently underway.
This investment in public spaces underscores the importance of fostering connections among residents while enhancing the overall quality of life. By welcoming families and creating spaces where neighbors can interact, these parks play a crucial role in strengthening the fabric of local communities. They not only serve as recreational hubs but also contribute to social cohesion and well-being. Two of the new parks will be located in Downtown Wellen, a pedestrian-friendly mixed-use gathering place with restaurants and retail boutiques. Situated on the south Hammock Lawn behind The Banyan House restaurant, the temporary Pop-Up Play Park for children 6 years and younger offers two sets of playground equipment. Featuring climbers, planks and slides, the park opened in early March and has been an instant hit with children and their caregivers. “Current and future residents spend a lot of their free time enjoying our existing parks, 30-plus miles of trails and outdoor venues and they have expressed a desire for even more opportunities to experience being outdoors,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “We’re excited to offer new play areas and nature trails that will enhance our residents’ and visitors’ outdoor experiences while fostering a sense of community, well-being and environmental stewardship.”
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Residents and visitors will find peace and joy in the quiet beauty of nature throughout Wellen Park’s trails and parks–a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life for humans and their canine friends.
Park Fun for Four-Legged Children
It’s time for a zoomies meetup! Canines and their humans love a good dog park. Designed to provide our pets with a safe and enjoyable environment to play, socialize and exercise, the parks are also great places for humans to connect with fellow pet lovers, forming neighborhood bonds. The Grand Lake Dog Park will be nestled along Downtown Wellen’s nearby waterfront, offering an aesthetically engaging area where pets may run free. The two-acre fenced park is expected to open in October 2025 and will include large open areas, jumping rings, a grassy mound with a tunnel, benches and seating and two large shade structures. Angled parking spaces along the planned Wellen Park Boulevard extension will be available, enabling easy driving access when the temps heat up and the pups are too tired to walk home after playing.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Wellen Park offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature and the outdoors, including its pedestrian-friendly downtown area with breathtaking views, paddle sports and angling on downtown’s 80-acre Grand Lake, The Landing fishing pier, intimate parks, green spaces and over 30 miles of trails and paths connecting to CoolToday Park, Downtown Wellen and residential neighborhoods. Downtown Wellen serves as the heart of Wellen Park’s outdoor recreation, offering distinctive alfresco spaces such as a nature-themed playground, a three-mile trail encircling Grand Lake, a lakefront fountain and splash pad, The Yard food park and a unique outdoor lounge beneath a centuries-old live oak tree.
Wellen Park’s dedication to wellness and the environment aligns with its intentional focus on sustainability and honoring its natural resources. Through its Heritage Tree Program, Wellen Park successfully relocated over 25 healthy live oak trees from various parts of the community to Downtown Wellen. This nearly $1 million effort not only preserved these mature trees but also helped establish an authentic, scale-rich atmosphere in Downtown Wellen. Every year, the development team and local volunteers plant hundreds of saplings throughout the community to enhance shaded areas, support wildlife habitats and bolster Florida’s pine population. Wellen Park promotes eco-friendly transportation through its multimodal trails and pathways, which are an important aspect of the community’s sustainability efforts. These scenic trails, constructed with crushed shell material to protect the wetlands and lakes, encourage residents and visitors to walk or bike rather than drive. They provide a space to connect with nature, stay active and create lasting memories.
Experience Nature on the Trail
Even the simplest path can lead to the most extraordinary discoveries on Wellen Park trails. The Oakheart Nature Trail, slated for March construction, will be a winding 3-mile trail offering shell paths, boardwalks and an immersive natural experience. Meandering along several lakes, wetlands and preserves bordering the EVERLY and Lakespur neighborhoods, the new trail will feature a fishing pier and connect to a planned school campus for kids walking and biking to school. Completion is anticipated for spring 2026. The trail will include two trailheads with restrooms and parking. Plans were also recently unveiled for the new Buttonwood Trail, a 2.5-mile shell path and boardwalk trail through natural scenery adjacent to the Palmera neighborhood. This trail will include a gated entry directly to the Palmera community. Development began in March and will be completed at the end of 2025.
THIS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT Wellen Park Fire Station 87 aims to foster meaningful connections between children and adults by creating shared spaces for play, interaction and community bonding.
Kids Just Want to Have Fun
Calling all Junior Firefighters! Park 87 will soon be all the rage with the local kids–and their parents! The community playground will be located near the roundabout along Manasota Beach Road and Preto Boulevard and will feature custom-built playground equipment with a unique fire station theme. This motif pays homage to its location next to the future Firehouse No. 87 and will serve as a dynamic play area for children and families living in nearby neighborhoods. The park is expected to be complete by early 2026. Beyond the playground, Park 87 will offer various amenities to ensure all visitors’ comfort and convenience. A multi-purpose lawn will provide open space for recreational activities and community events, while shaded areas and a covered pavilion with restrooms will offer respite from the sun. The park will also feature a well-designed parking area for ease of access. With a total size of approximately two acres, Park 87 will have dedicated areas for toddlers, ensuring that the youngest visitors have a safe and engaging space to play. The playground is being designed and installed by KOMPAN, Inc., a company that prides itself on creating fun fitness solutions. Since 1970, they’ve been working to make communities healthier and happier through outdoor play and fitness equipment. To keep things eco-friendly, KOMPAN uses components made from up to 95% recycled materials and follows some seriously impressive, award-winning green practices. Park 87, equipped with a 27-foot-tall giant play tower with fire station-themed play panels and two slides, will inspire children to step into the boots of everyday heroes when they climb aboard the rescue helicopter or take the wheel of the fire truck play structures. The surrounding freestanding play equipment, such as a rope obstacle course, spinners, a Universal Carousel and a swing set with ADA-accessible seating, caters to children of all ages and abilities. Poured-in-place rubber surfacing lets children with mobility-assisted devices move throughout the play space with greater ease and continues the fire station theme with a fire hose, sirens, hydrants and more features in its design. While the firehouse theme honors the park’s soon-to-be neighbor, thematic play spaces have been found to support communication skills, social-emotional development and strengthen critical thinking skills. “Themes in play structures help initiate play between children of all abilities,” said Jennette Fich Jespersen, head of KOMPAN Play Institute. “Rescue is a theme that resonates with children and their caregivers. It inspires endless stories of cooperation, heroism and humanity. The fire station-themed play structures offer a multitude of thematic cues and fine motor manipulative play items that will support longer, more engaging play sessions for all children.” WPL
SPREAD,
America’sPastime
Every summer, CoolToday Park hosts the Florida Complex League Braves, with attendance free of charge to baseball fans of all ages. WORDS BY DYLAN
SPRING SYMBOLIZES NEW BEGINNINGS. It also signifies the beginning of baseball, the slow churn of America’s pastime that will take loving fans into the summer and early fall. In Wellen Park, it marks the start of the Florida Complex League Braves’ season at CoolToday Park. For baseball fans in the area, the Florida Complex League offers perhaps the most pure, unadulterated form of the sport.
CAMPBELL
PHOTOGRAPHY
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LEFT TO RIGHT Braves All-Star third baseman Austin Riley takes the field at CoolToday Park; Loyal Braves fans come from far and wide to enjoy the action at Wellen Park’s CoolToday Park.
baseball
“The Florida Complex League is a bonafide rookie league that we play in the Florida complexes, typically with teams that do not have a Florida State League team. It’s played five days a week, with standard start times of noon on weekdays and 10am on Saturdays,” says Mike Dunn, vice president of Florida Operations for the Atlanta Braves. “It’s good quality baseball, but fundamentally a little green. With the players being rookies, there’s a fair amount of development in front of them, so this league is a start to their professional career and hopefully a stepping stone to low-A.”
There’s a hard truth to professional baseball. Roughly ten percent of the players drafted or signed by a Major League team ever make it to the big leagues. The Florida Complex League is the first rung on the professional ladder—next comes
Single-A, then High-A, followed by Double-A, Triple-A and finally the Major Leagues. That doesn’t mean that the Complex League competition isn’t at a high level. For however good a player might be in college or at the amateur level, professional baseball operates on a different echelon.
“Like in any other sport, the higher up you go, the faster the game becomes,” says Dunn. “While it’s still the same game, you’ll be facing a pitcher that not only throws a 98 mph fastball, he’s also got a slider, a sinker, a curveball and everything else that keeps you off the basepaths. You don’t see that in high school, you don’t see that as much in college, but when you get to the professional ranks, you’re seeing a superior athlete that has multiple skill sets.”
BELOW Braves minor league catcher and Venice High graduate Mac Guscette watches the Grapefruit League game from the dugout.
baseball
For players in the Florida Complex League, Dunn maintains that the adjustment is just as much a mental one as it is physical. When a player is signed at 16 years old as an international free agent or is drafted out of college, the complex league is typically the first stop. While all of these athletes are bursting with elite physical talent, there is a grind to professional baseball that can only be adapted to by experiencing it. In the minor and major leagues, players will typically play for 20 days in a row before having an off day.
“You could be the fastest guy. You could have the best fastball. You could have the most power at the plate, but mentally if you can’t cope with the grind every day, you won’t have success,” says Dunn. “You’re going to go 0 for 4 at the plate a couple of
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna readies himself in the dugout before stepping up to the plate; An eager fan stands below the center field grandstand at CoolToday Park; Shortstop Nick Allen signs autographs for fans prior to a Spring Training game at CoolToday Park. CoolToday Park, 18800 S. West Villages Parkway.
days in a row, you’re going to walk the bases loaded a few times, you’re going to have to go through a fair amount of adjustments and that’s just the mental aspect of getting to the next level in baseball.”
At CoolToday Park, fans can get all-inclusive access to the start of what could be a future AllStar’s career. Like any Spring Training game, concessions are available to fans. Superior Pools Tiki Bar and Grill sports a full menu, but the deal becomes even sweeter: admission is free to fans.
“We pride ourselves on opening CoolToday Park to the public so they can come out, watch some quality baseball, have a cold beer, eat a hot dog and call it a day,” says Dunn. “I don’t think there’s anything much better than doing that on a nice, sunny day.” WPL
Refining theRecipe
WHEN THE OWNERS OF ACQUA PAZZA TOOK A RECENT TRIP TO ITALY, they discovered cioccolata calda, or Italian sipping chocolate. This decadent, luxurious treat is much denser than the typical hot cocoa found in the USA with a thick, creamy texture that’s almost like a pourable chocolate pudding. Angela Stinnett is the general manager at Acqua Pazza, and she was tasked with recreating the luscious drink at the coastal Italian eatery.
“THE OWNERS WERE STILL IN ITALY,” LAUGHS
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Acqua Pazza GM Angela Stinnett is good at figuring out how to make things work, whether it’s a mysterious machine or a well-loved restaurant. Hours of effort have gone into perfecting a decadent cioccolata calda with homemade whipped cream.
STINNETT. “I had this machine with a two-page instruction booklet and no recipe, and man, I dug right in.”Stinnett has spent weeks mastering the machine and tweaking the recipe. It’s the same level of passion and commitment she brings to everything she does at Acqua Pazza. Stinnett has been with the restaurant since it first opened, starting out as the head bartender and assistant general manager. In November 2024 she became the general manager.
“I love her,” Stinnett says of the restaurant. “She’s my second home. I take care of her the same way I take care of my own home.”
In her new role, Stinnett has set about elevating the eatery to a new echelon, enhancing what diners already love and making additions that have been requested by regulars. While the menu still includes old favorites, it has expanded to include some exciting, flavorful new items bursting with Italian inspiration. The chicken marsala entree features two pieces of chicken served over housemade pasta and topped with a sauce made from sweet marsala wine, fresh figs and wild mushrooms. A crispy piece of prosciutto adds texture and a bit of umami flavor. Stinnett’s personal favorite, though, may be the barolo short rib ragu.
The evolution of Acqua Pazza. WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
“That dish has braised short rib that’s cooked for hours in the oven on low heat. It’s just the simplest of things—a ragu short rib sauce tossed with fresh, homemade rigatoni—but it’s absolutely fabulous,” she says. “I wish there was a better word than comfort food, because calling it that doesn’t capture the dish. It’s one of the best things on the planet.”
Stinnett has also made some changes to the cocktail menu, adding some new drinks that draw inspiration from the new entrees. The Tuscan Cosmopolitan is made with fig vodka, elderflower and a splash of pomegranate and garnished with a twist of lemon. Even with just three simple ingredients, it has a striking purple hue and a lovely depth of flavor. It’s the perfect drink for cocktail connoisseurs to sip on while
they enjoy the playlist of upbeat standards that Stinnett has carefully curated to create a lively atmosphere in her home away from home.
At the time this article was written, the Italian sipping chocolate still hadn’t officially made its way to the menu. Stinnett continues to improve upon the recipe, soliciting feedback from employees at Acqua Pazza and customers, whether they’re new visitors or old friends. It’s emblematic of the level of attention to detail she has put into taking one of Wellen Park’s hallmark restaurants to a whole new level.
“Honestly, the sipping chocolate has kind of become my baby because my day really revolves around it,” Stinnett admits. “I like to joke that I’m the chocolatier at Acqua Pazza and I also do GM things on the side.”
WPL
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Chicken marsala with housemade pasta, wild mushrooms, fresh figs and crispy prosciutto is one of the new dishes you can find on Acqua Pazza’s recentlyrevamped menu.
New Ground
TerraNova Equestrian Center is building on Sarasota’s equestrian legacy.
WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
FLORIDA HAS LONG BEEN A HAVEN FOR EQUESTRIAN ENTHUSIASTS. Cities like Ocala—which has been dubbed the “Horse Capital of the World”—and Wellington, which is home to elite polo and showjumping events, get a lot of attention. But Sarasota’s lesser-known history with horses is surprisingly deep-rooted. “When the circus came to Sarasota in the 1920s, the main driving force behind it was actually horses,” says Ruby Tevis. “Whether they were performing horses or work horses that helped to transport the show and set up the big top, the circus brought hundreds if not thousands of equines. And since this is before Ocala’s first thoroughbred farm was established, I feel that in some ways Sarasota was Florida’s original equine epicenter.”
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Show-jumping, dressage and three-day eventing competitions at TerraNova often serve as Oympic qualifiers. The cross-country course at TerraNova was designed by esteemed British equestrian Captain Mark Phillips.
Tevis is the director of marketing and communications at TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City. TerraNova is a state-of-the-art equestrian facility that hosts competitions from October through May each year, specializing in three-day eventing, show jumping, hunters and equitation, dressage and combined driving.
“Three-day eventing, show jumping and dressage are all sports that are recognized in the Olympics and our events are internationally recognized. They are sanctioned by the FEI, which stands for the Fédération Équestre Internationale,” Tevis explains. “Essentially, the FEI oversees international-level competitions and our events are often qualifiers for the Olympics.”
TerraNova is fairly new—its inaugural event was hosted in 2021—but they brought in people with years of expertise to design and build the facility. The cross-country course was designed by Captain Mark Phillips, an accomplished British equestrian with close ties to the royal family. That’s just one example of how TerraNova is working to create the best experience possible for visiting horses as well as the equines in their care.
equestrian
“A lot of equestrian facilities cater to the human experience, but here we really have put the horse first in everything that we do,” Tevis says. “You come out here and there are beautiful oak canopies and places where competitors can graze their horses. It’s not an overwhelming experience for the horse.” But while the horses are the priority at TerraNova, there is still a meticulous level of detail that goes into the human experience. The facility is set up to be comfortable and welcoming to competitors who have traveled in from out of town as well as to locals who may want to check out an event as a spectator. If you’d like to enjoy a more elevated experience, you can get tickets for a VIP brunch with cuisine thoughtfully curated by Executive Chef Christopher Capstick. Reserve seats ahead of time and you can enjoy your meal at a ringside table in the pavilion with a panoramic view of that weekend’s event. If you’d prefer a
more casual day out with the family, you can still come see the show with free daily admission and get ringside bleacher seating. Kids can check out the interactive TerraNova Tiny Town as well as a Mini Horsemanship Camp when available. There are also food trucks on site and some boutique vendors. The shows are accessible for people with disabilities, and if you have to park farther away, then shuttles are available.
“TerraNova was really built as a place for everyone,” says Tevis. “I’m a horse person myself, and I get to show here and enjoy it as well. There’s nothing like this experience. It’s really groundbreaking and I hope that everyone can take something away when they come to visit. Whether they’re competing or just coming to watch, they can gain a new respect and appreciation for the animals and the nature and the sport.” WPL
BELOW
TerraNova offers activities for the whole family, including a Mini Horsemanship Camp (check their website for availability). TerraNova Equestrian Center, 31625 Clay Gully Road, Myakka City, 941-5578014, www.terranovaequestrian.com.
recreation ServingUp Fun
Racket sports are uniting residents at nearby clubs. WORDS BY
BELOW
Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America in large part because it requires less of a learning curve than other racket sports like tennis or squash.
THERE IS SOMETHING FUNNY THAT HAPPENS TO MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY PICK UP A PICKLEBALL PADDLE—they tend to have a hard time putting it down. The fastest-growing sport in America, pickleball has swept up millions with its fast-paced, accessible style of play. The racket sports craze has caught on in Wellen Park, where residents have plenty of outlets to play not only pickleball, but its older, more technically demanding relative, tennis. At the Wellen Park Golf and Country Club, members have the opportunity to learn the two sports on the club’s eight pickleball and six tennis courts.
DYLAN CAMPBELL
recreation
“WE HAVE CLINICS FOR ADULTS AND KIDS and those are open for all levels of play,” says Clark Gibson, rackets professional at the club. “Our clinics in the morning are mainly doubles strategy clinics where we also work on the technique of where to hit the ball and how to position yourself on the tennis or pickleball court. The clinics are a nice way for people to get out and hit with others and work on some of the skills we’re developing in the drills.”
The club, which also hosts tournaments and social events for both sports, is a haven for residents to enjoy the two activities. Laurie Fennos, who moved to Wellen Park in fall of 2024, plays pickleball at the club five days a week, for two to three hours a day. “I like that I don’t have to nec-
BELOW, CLOCKWISE All that members need to play pickleball is a paddle and a competitive spirit. A member whacks a serve during a pickleball match. Most often played in doubles, pickleball is just as much a social activity as it is a physical one.
essarily make plans to go and play, I know that I can just go to the club, write my name on a whiteboard, put my paddle in a stack and be set to play in the next game,” says Fennos. “Just knowing that I always have somewhere to go and play, get challenging games in and socialize with members of the community is great.”
BOCA ROYALE
At the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, racket sports are the name of the game. The club sports six “Hydro-Grid” clay courts and eight pickleball courts, which house a myriad of opportunities for members to join in on the fun.
recreation
“We have several leagues for men and women in both tennis and pickleball. We offer drills, clinics, semi-private lessons, private lessons and group lessons,” says Racquets Director Agnieszka Delong. “The pickleball leagues are typically more within the club and we offer open play and ladder play as well.” If members are looking for a more competitive tennis experience, they can join the Tri Cities Tennis League or the Suncoast Tennis League, which will see Boca Royale players travel across the region to test their mettle against other clubs. While tennis is Delong’s first love—she played Division 1 tennis at Eastern Michigan University—and will always be a staple amongst purists, she admitted that pickleball’s popularity has surged through the club’s membership base in recent years.
“I’m seeing a lot of new members gravitate towards pickleball,” says Delong. “Members who have played tennis in the past also have been dabbling in pickleball as well. There’s less of a learning curve to pickleball than in tennis. I’d also say that pickleball tends to bring people together. If you’re playing doubles for instance, you’re playing with three other people. It’s a great way for people to come out and have fun.”
Some of the club’s signature events include an annual pickleball in the dark tournament, where participants play at night with the courts illuminated by glow-in-the-dark lights. “It’s super fun. We tape the lines of the court and the paddles with glow-in-the-dark tape, which creates a really cool experience,” says Delong. WPL
BELOW Players connect after a match.
To learn more, Wellen Park Golf & Country Club, 12060 Wellen Golf Street, wellenparkflgc.com, Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, 1601 Englewood Rd, Englewood, bocaroyale.com.
homedesign
BELOW Modern materials give pool decks a more sophisticated look and integrate them seamlessly with outdoor living spaces. Featured
Deep Dive
EXPERT INSIGHTS IN WHAT’S TRENDING IN POOL DESIGN. “I think people have always appreciated outdoor living spaces,” says David Hunihan. “But I think over the last twenty years, and especially the last five years with the pandemic lockdowns, people have realized, ‘Hey, if I’m going to be in my house, I want to have more indoor-outdoor livability.’” Hunihan is the CEO of Lee Wetherington Homes, one of the luxury home builders that is shaping Wellen Park neighborhoods including the Everly neighborhood. He has noticed many new homeowners prioritizing outdoor living spaces in new builds, asking for outdoor living rooms with televisions and fully-equipped outdoor kitchens. Swimming pools are also an essential part of outdoor living in Florida. Hunihan and other experts weighed in on what’s trending in the pool world. WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
Caravel home by Lee Wetherington Homes in the Everly at Wellen Park neighborhood.
home design
FOUNTAINS
When it comes to pool features, fountains are one of the most popular and versatile add-ons because they just bring so much to the table. “When people are enjoying their pool, they want to hear the sound of water,” says Walker. The sound of water flowing from a fountain into the pool helps drown out background noise and makes your outdoor living space feel more serene and secluded. The flowing water is also good for your pool, distributing chemicals better and reducing stagnant areas. Figuring out the perfect placement for the fountain is key. Positioning fountains on the sides of your pool is a great way to create privacy or keep a waterfront view unobstructed. If you don’t have much of a view, placing a fountain in a central location allows it to become a focal point and a statement piece.
BELOW Minimalistic design of geometric pools works well with more contemporary architecture. Background noise from fountains makes your outdoor space feel more serene and secluded.
GO GEOMETRIC
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, lagoon-style pools were quite popular. Organic in shape, lagoon pools gave the yard more of a natural, tropical oasis vibe, especially when paired with lush landscaping. Over the past few years, though, homeowners have instead been gravitating toward sleeker, more modern designs with clean lines and geometric shapes. The minimalist aesthetic of geometric pools works well with more contemporary architecture, but this trend also adds value when adding a pool to a screened-in deck, which is typically the case for Wellen Park neighborhoods. “You get more bang for your buck out of a pool with clean lines than on a freeform pool,” says Dave Walker, a pool designer with Coast to Coast Pools. The largest pool builder in the state of Florida, Coast to Coast works with several Wellen Park builders, including Lee Wetherington Homes. In Wellen Park, outdoor living spaces are screenedin, and that defines the area contractors have to work with. The rounded edges of a lagoon pool combined with the corners of a pool cage lead to wasted space. But this doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a plain rectangular pool either. You can still add visual interest by incorporating elements like decorative notches or by pulling out the sun shelf (a shallow, flat area at the pool’s entry) beyond the pool’s boundaries to break up the silhouette.
home design
MODERNIZE MATERIALS
Picking out finishes is one of the best ways to personalize your home and make it unique to your taste and the same principle applies when it comes to selecting materials for use in and around your pool area. Now more than ever, pool materials combine superior quality with a wider range of style options, offering both enhanced durability and elevated design possibilities. “If you go back twenty years, there were concrete decks around pools. The next upgrade was pavers, which have become so standard that it’s rare to see a concrete deck anymore,” says Rob LaGasse, a pool designer with Waterscapes Pools & Spas. Waterscapes is under the umbrella of Neal Communities and does all of the pool design for Neal Homes, but also works for other builders. “Now we’re seeing larger media, like travertine tiles, which can be 16 by 24 inches instead of a 4 by 8 inch paver or something smaller. “Or you can have a sandblasted marble or leathered marble that’s not slippery, which also comes in big pieces and is brighter. Homes in Sarasota used to be very Mediterranean, but they’ve become more modern with West Indies influences. Marble fits that modern design a lot better than pavers.” In the 1990s and early 2000s, pools were typically lined with porcelain tile. If there was glass tile, it was usually in a small feature area of one by one inch mosaic tiles. Now there’s a lot more diversity in tile options, like glass subway tiles. “The tile in my pool is glass and each piece has different textures and colors. Some have bubbles, some have stripes, some are flat,” says LaGasse. “When the sunlight catches the glass, it really adds a wow factor.”
BELOW
Larger travertine tiles, sandblasted marble or leathered marble are becoming popular selections for the pool deck. Larger attached spas are in vogue in Wellen Park neighborhoods.
ATTACHED SPAS
People often use the terms hot tub and spa interchangeably, but there are distinctions between the two. Hot tubs typically refer to portable, above-ground units made from acrylic, wood or plastic with a self-contained heating, filtration and jet system, while spas are a more permanent fixture. Standalone in-ground spas are built separately from a pool but are recessed into the ground for a more custom look, while attached spas are integrated into the pool design. Attached spas are in vogue in Wellen Park neighborhoods right now (particularly, Hunihan points out, larger ones that seat 4-6 people) because they add a sense of cohesion and aesthetic elevation to the outdoor living area. “An attached spa is built-in so it’s a feature of a pool instead of something separate,” says LaGasse. “It has the same coping, the same tile, the same interior. Everything looks like it belongs.”
WELLEN PARK NEIGHBORHOODS MAP
BISCAYNE II EVERLY
CAPTIVA GRAND PALM
DREAM II PALMERA
EDGEWATER GRAN PLACE
EGRET V PALMERA
EVERGREEN PALMERA
GLADES SUNSTONE
HAVEN EVERLY
JUBILEE PALMERA LARGO RENAISSANCE
MARIA WELLEN PARK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
MARSALA ANTIGUA
MAYA BRIGHTMORE
MONTE CARLO LAKESPUR MYSTIQUE LAKESPUR
OCEANGROVE II LAKESPUR PALM BAY II EVERLY
PATRIOT WYSTERIA
RUBYTAIL PALMERA
SANDCASTLE II BOCA ROYALE
SILVER SKY II AVELINA
SOLLAS SOLSTICE
TIDELAND
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• The floor plan includes a beautiful open kitchen with corner pantry, center island with plenty of counterspace and a dining area
• The master bedroom includes two closets, dual vanity sinks and a walk-in shower
• A separate den, utility room and 2 additional bedrooms and second bath complete the home
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HOMES
• Award-winning layout that inspires togetherness along with versatile spaces
• Thoughtfully-designed owner’s suite provides a peaceful retreat
• Expansive covered lanai extends living space outdoors
• Fun-filled clubhouse and amenity campus with abundant events
M/I HOMES
• Personalization: Spacious & open plan with flexibility at every corner. The Jubilee fits the needs of your family perfectly, o ering a flex room & optional bonus room
• Entertainer’s Delight: Gather with family & friends in the gourmet kitchen, open great room & expansive lanai over looking the most beautiful views in Wellen Park.
• Tranquil Retreat: Rest and relaxation awaits in your private owner’s suite with spa-like owner’s bath and walk-in closet
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• Open floorplan with Inviting & well-lit kitchen
• Covered lanai that allows for enjoyable outdoor experiences
• Secondary suite next to the versatile den that can be used o ce space or a home gym.
• The owner’s suite is at the rear of the house, ensuring privacy and tranquility
• Spacious great room & kitchen filled with natural sunlight
• Sliding glass doors extend living outside to the lanai
• Chef’s kitchen’s wide layout with a corner walk-in pantry & a center island/breakfast bar
• Owner’s suite has two walk-in closets & a spa-inspired bath with luxe soaking tub
• Two guestrooms & den are located o the foyer hallway
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• Vibrant 55+ lifestyle community with 11-acres of vacation-style amenities under construction
• Sliding glass doors open to the patio for the ultimate indoor/ outdoor living space
• Owner’s suite featuring a spacious bathroom with dual walk-in closets
• 4 new models open daily
• Award-winning coach home with optimized living spaces for entertaining or everyday living
• Kitchen with generous island and adjacent dining area
• Great room highlighted by an expansive slider to the covered balcony
• Fun-filled amenities open for all residents to enjoy
DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES
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• Versatile Sunlit Study:
CALENDAR ofEvents
The Great Wellen
Park Pie Bake Off
Saturday, June 28, 10:30am Convinced your baking takes the cake? Sign up for the Great Wellen Park Pie Bake Off and show off your skills! All ages can participate, with separate judging for Junior Bakers (under 13), Teen Bakers (13-18) and adults. Pies will be judged for taste, technical execution and appearance. From key lime to pecan to French silk and more, we can’t wait to see (and taste!) your culinary creations.
Pre-registration is required. Learn more here: wellenpark.com/events/great-wellen-pie-bake-off/
ARTS ABOUND WEEKEND OF ART
PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE AND FINE ART FESTIVAL ON THE GREAT LAWN AND SOLIS HALL. Brought to life through partnership with the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County with an Art Walk in partnership with Paragon.
The first art event presented by Wellen Park, in partnership with Paragon Festivals, took place February 15-16. The outdoor gallery featured original, handmade works by talented artisans from across Florida and the United States. A diverse array of art forms was included, spanning the mediums of painting, sculpture, glasswork, ceramics, photography, woodworking and more. Visitors had the opportunity to stroll through the beautiful surroundings of Wellen Park, meeting the artists and learning about their inspirations and techniques.
READY, SET, GO!
Wellen Park hosted its third annual Half Marathon and 5K, presented by Hotwire Communications, on Saturday, March 15. The 13.1-mile course is certified by USA Track & Field. The event, welcoming walkers and runners, began and ended at South Hall. An awards ceremony followed, recognizing the top male and female finishers in various categories. Participants also enjoyed live music from Solis Hall’s outdoor stage, along with food and beverages from various Downtown Wellen restaurants and The Yard eateries. This race marked the first-ever 5K for Max and Oksana, residents of North Port, who had always wanted to participate in an event like this. Hayden, a Sarasota native, says that he took part in the race as part of his commitment to living a healthier lifestyle, with his family there to cheer him on. The race benefitted Big Brothers Big Sisters and raised over $16,000 for the charity.
WELLEN PARK HALF MARATHON AND 5K
WELLEN PARK HALF MARATHON AND 5K Medals await participants at the finish line.
CALENDAR
Building Community | Ongoing Event Programs
Wellen Park invites the community to celebrate the summer with a vibrant lineup of events. Come to Downtown Wellen to enjoy a variety of local family-friendly happenings. From live music to fun-filled festivals, there are plenty of ways to participate. Most activities are free and open to the public.
Music and Art
Wellen Park hosts a variety of musical genres and musicians throughout each week. Visitors are invited to bask in the captivating scenery and waterfront vibe by bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets for maximum comfort. These musical gatherings offer an open-door policy, requiring no prior RSVP for attendance. Guests can participate in Wellen Park’s Sip & Stroll program by purchasing to-go alcoholic beverages from Downtown Wellen food and beverage merchants.
Friday Concert Series, May 30
Every Friday through May 6–10pm
First Friday Concert Series
First Friday starting June 6–10pm
Community Connections
Sunday Groove
Every Sunday, 9am–1pm
Dueling Pianos
Third Thursday, monthly
June 19, 2025
July 17, 2025
August 21, 2025
Farmers Market/Night Market Join us at the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market every Sunday from 9am-1pm where you can shop for fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seafood, cut flowers and more. This season, enjoy the Wellen Park Night Market, bringing together independent artists and makers specializing in home decor, fashion, art, design, food (and more!) in a fun and inspiring environment that champions community. The market takes place one night per month on the second Thursday. Dates for Night Market are June 12, July 10, 2025
Cars & Caffeine—First Saturday of the Month. Last Event of the Season, May 3 Rev up your engines! Wellen Park and co-sponsors, Foxtail Coffee and Antique Automobile Club of America-Venice Region, are excited to offer car enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to come together for an informal early morning gathering to share their passion for all things automotive. Welcoming all makes and models to join monthly on the first Saturday of the month during season from 7:30am to 10:30am. Show cars will be in the parking lot behind the two-story building downtown. A directional parking attendant will be at the parking entrance off of Sunglow Blvd. Can’t wait to see you at the next gathering and invite you to stick around afterwards for some shopping and dining in Downtown Wellen. All attendees will receive 50 percent off of drip, iced and cold brew coffee from 7am to 10am at Foxtail Coffee. After May, Cars & Caffeine returns in September.
Drop-In Cornhole—Every Wednesday, 6pm-10pm. Last Event of the Season, May 28 Play a game or two with your fellow neighbors and enjoy the beautiful sights, sounds and tastes of Downtown Wellen Park. Cornhole tournament draw time will be precisely at 6:30pm with a $5 fee. No outside food or alcoholic beverages are permitted during this event. To-go alcoholic beverages are sold by the restaurants and food containers. Drop-In Cornhole returns in September.
Fun Fitness
Get your fitness on with a dynamic lineup of weekly fitness activities for the community. Groups will meet in Downtown Wellen in front of Kind Vibes Outfitters. Yoga and Zumba classes meet on the Great Lawn. Yoga, Zumba and Mind & Body Fitness are classes offered by the YMCA.
Walking Group Meet-Up Saturdays, 9–10am
Zumba Class Mondays, 8–9am
For more details on Wellen
Yoga Class Saturdays, 8am–9am
Running Meet-Up Mondays, 6–7pm
Mind & Body Fitness Class Tuesdays, 8am–9am
TOGETHER FocusOn Community
A recent photo contest puts a lens on the joys of living in and visiting Wellen
Park. WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT
THIS PAGE
Joyful Innocence captures one boy’s love of playtime in Wellen Park.
contest
THE WELLEN PARK WELCOME CENTER RECENTLY ADDED NINE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHS FROM A CONTEST open to Wellen Park residents and visitors to its walls. The theme of the contest was “What Makes Wellen Park Special” and submissions were judged by the North Port Art Center. Winners were honored at a celebration on April 23 and received a $100 gift card to a Downtown Wellen restaurant of their choice.
“Wellen Park was looking for candid shots that represented what the public felt was the best of our location. We received lots of entries with people sending multiple shots and I was asked to narrow it down to nine winners. Each winner would have their work enlarged and framed. We judged the photos based on the following criteria: bright color contrast, good composition, interesting topic, ability to fit into a group to be hung together and enough pixels and details to work well when enlarged,” says the North Port Art Center judge. “Generally, the winners were beautiful shots of our fabulous weather and landscape. My personal favorite, however, was one of a young boy with his tongue out, drinking from what my granddaughter calls ‘the squirty park’.”
Beth Bracaglia, who volunteers at many community events, submitted one of the winning photos, Banyan at Sunset. “It’s hard to narrow down the many pictures that I’ve taken since moving to Wellen Park 14 months ago and select from them,” she says. “Here are a few of my favorite captures. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.”
“My husband and I moved to Wellen Park in August of 2023. We raised our family on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The Cape has wonderful towns, each with its own personality, so we looked for the same in Florida. We found it in Wellen Park. The
sense of community is strong and offers something for everyone. Talking walks or riding a bike around Grand Lake offers a different perspective of a gorgeous landscape with every outing,” shares Michelle Gage. “My moonrise photo was taken on August 19, 2024. It was a Supermoon/ Bluemoon/Sturgeon moon.”
On her submission, Rainbow, Shawn Strodoski said, “Since moving to Wellen Park in January 2024, it has quickly become such a special place for us. This community has truly embraced our lifestyle, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful people we’ve met along the way. From the beautiful surroundings to the incredible sense of connection, Wellen Park has exceeded our expectations in every way. I’m submitting this picture for the photo contest, because I think this best describes how we feel, including the rainbow!”
Yellow Turtle, a submission from Jojo Mahn, was also chosen as a winning photo. “These pictures are from my son Joseph. He has autism,” wrote his dad. “He loves photography and I find that reviewing his photos gives me a peek at the way he views the world.”
“Joyful Innocence is a photo of my son, Samuel,” says Igor Mikhalevich. “He loves playing at Wellen Park.” WPL The nine winning photos are currently displayed in the Wellen Park Welcome Center.
WINNERS
MATTHEW SHIELDS 1946 FIRE TRUCK
NIKKI JO KLEFSTAD PURPLE SUNSET
ROGER GRIFFIN YELLOW DANCERS
BETH BRACAGLIA BANYAN AT SUNSET
SHAWN STRODOSKI RAINBOW
ANNA LUKOWSKI WATER LILY
MICHELLE GAGE
NIGHT SCENE FULL MOON
IGOR MIKHALEVICH
JOYFUL INNOCENCE
JOJO MAHN YELLOW TURTLE
Banyan at Sunset Purple Sunset
Water Lily (above), Rainbow (below).
Yellow Dancers
1946 Fire Truck
Night Scene
Yellow Turtle
youth
New Heights
the unique and stimulating environment of SCFCS-Venice.
For two graduating seniors at SCFCS-Venice, their time in the dual-enrollment program is only the beginning of their promising futures. WORDS BY
AT MANY HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, students strive for excellence. At the State College of Florida Collegiate School-Venice (SCFCS), students have a tangible plan for reaching academic excellence. SCFCS-Venice is a dual-enrollment high school. Located on the State College of Florida-Venice campus, SCFCS gives students the opportunity to graduate high school with their Associate in Arts degree. In grades 9 and 10, students undergo a rigorous academic program that prepares them to assimilate into a college courseload in grades 11 and 12. While there are clear financial benefits, with Florida Gulf Coast University and New College offering significant scholarships to SCFCS graduates upon enrollment, the academic, social and vocational rewards are immeasurable. For graduating seniors like Wyatt Dillhyon and Nyobi Fleming, the program has given them the confidence and insight necessary to pursue their respective career paths from a young age.
DYLAN CAMPBELL
THIS PAGE Wyatt Dillhyon (left) and Nyobi Fleming flourished in
youth
DILLHYON, AN 18-YEAR-OLD SENIOR who will be attending the University of Florida (UF) next fall, has benefited from the flexibility of SCFCS-Venice’s dual enrollment program. Dillhyon, who will be pursuing his bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering, was able to start taking classes at the college campus late into his sophomore year. Doing so allowed him to knock out the general education requirements of the Associate in Arts degree and by the end of his junior year, he was taking classes that would fulfill credits in his Aerospace Engineering degree at UF.
While the opportunity to get a leg up in his future degree—Dillhyon plans to get a masters and will enter UF in the second year of his degree—is significant, the skill base and habits that he formed as a result of the dual enrollment program are just as beneficial. It’s one thing to enter college a couple of semesters’ worth of credits ahead of other first-year students, but it’s another to be able to navigate the challenges that come with the freedom of college life.
“You get used to the feeling that there’s always something to be done. Instead of just thinking, ‘If I finish these tasks then I’m all set’, you learn to manage your time in blocks to prioritize what’s important,” says Dillhyon. “In terms of character development, it’s been extremely helpful. I’ve gotten over a lot of my struggles with procrastination that I had in high school. The program shows you who you actually are and what you really want to do with yourself—at the end of the day, it’s you who is making all of this happen.”
The dual-enrollment program has also exposed Dillhyon to classes and topics typically not found at the high school level. Intro to Philosophical Thinking, Dillhyon states, was a class that unexpectedly became one of his favorites because of its specificity and engaging professor.
The freedom of SCFCS-Venice has also extended to Dillhyon’s extracurricular activities and social life. Not bound to the conventional high school model, Dillhyon is involved in clubs at both the collegiate school and the college itself.
At the collegiate school, he is the president of the National Honors Society and a member of the English National Honor Society. At the college itself, he is the vice president of the Stem-Med Club.
“While the feeling of happiness after you finish a difficult, stressful class is awesome, some of my favorite moments have been because of the freedom to just go around campus during the day,” says Dillhyon. “I’ve reflected on life with friends at Publix in the middle of the day or worked on coursework with them outside of the classroom—just being with friends in that kind of scenario was such a nice time. It’s something that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.” WPL
THIS PAGE Some of Wyatt Dillhyon’s favorite moments came from having the flexibility of being able to meet his friends during the school day on the State College campus.
WYATT DILLHYON
youth
NYOBI FLEMING ALWAYS KNEW THAT SHE WANTED TO BE CHALLENGED. Enrolled in gifted and honors classes throughout middle school, the choice to attend SCFCS was easy for the 17-yearold senior. “The prospect of being able to get my associates degree while in high school was really enticing to me,” says Fleming. “This program shaves off at least two years from my eventual four-year degree, so not only am I saving time, but I’m saving a considerable amount of money as well. Academically, I knew that I wanted to continue to be challenged throughout high school, which led me to SCFCS-Venice.”
NYOBI FLEMING
Fleming, who is undecided on her college choice at the time of the interview, wants to do more than just go to college, however. She plans to be a premed student in college with the goal of eventually becoming an OB-GYN—Fleming has been applying to colleges with combined medical programs, where students can obtain their bachelors and medical degrees in one shot.
“The coursework and rigor of the classes that I took at the collegiate school helped me to realize that I wanted to apply for a combined medical program,” says Fleming. “If I’d gone to a ‘normal’ high school, I wouldn’t have
THIS PAGE Nyobi Fleming says that she wouldn’t be so set on embarking on a career in medicine if it wasn’t for the challenging coursework at SCFCS-Venice.
been exposed to all of these different types of classes. For example, I took a general education class called Speech Communications, which is a public speaking course, and without taking it I would have never realized that public speaking is something I was particularly interested in or good at.”
Like Dillhyon, Fleming finished her general education requirements in her junior year, allowing her to focus on the courses pertaining to her passion for medicine. This semester, she’s taking a course in microbiology, a topic not usually covered in high schools as well as a course called Community Health Problems, which solidified her future career choice. Although Fleming is the president of the STEM-Med club on the college campus, she says that the course gave her a different perspective on the path to becoming a doctor than the traditional STEM courses she has taken.
While the difficulty of the classes in grades 9 and 10 at SCFCS-Venice prepared Fleming for the academic challenges of college coursework, the social and time management transition from a high school environment to a collegiate one was an adjustment she had to make on her own. In college, the professors aren’t going to track down a student if they miss a test or fail to turn in an assignment–the onus to succeed academically is placed solely on the students themselves.
The social environment on a college campus also mirrors that of adult life more accurately than that of a high school. In the real world, one has to be proactive in forming and maintaining friendships, a skill that can only be learned by doing. “You’re not going to be in the same classes as your friends, so you have to make an effort to go see them. It also forces you to engage with people you wouldn’t typically talk to,” says Fleming. “Your study group is not going to be made up of your best friends— they’re people you don’t know, some of whom might be old enough to be your parents, so you have to adapt to a diverse population of students.” WPL
THIS PAGE Mike McKirahan is the director of FCA Sports, an initiative of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Sarasota County.
MoreThan A Game
The Sarasota County Fellowship of Christian Athletes is building out community programs through FCA Sports. WORDS BY
DYLAN CAMPBELL
PHYSICAL COMPETITION IS INTRINSIC TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. For every high school athlete who wakes up before dawn to lift weights and practices late into the evening after school, for every youth soccer player who stays after practice to work on their technique or every swimmer who works out twice a day, there is merit in the work. Whether or not the athlete wins or loses or if they progress to playing in high school, college or professionally, there are foundational life skills that are instilled in the journey. “Sports have always been an avenue for building character and resilience,” says Mike McKirahan, director of FCA sports for the Sarasota County Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “It uses competition to build life skills like how to work hard and train for a goal and moreover, how to live and work with purpose.” There is another side to sports, however. A toxicity that can breed when the athlete becomes the tool for the team or the coach to succeed in the sport, instead of the sport serving the athlete. McKirahan has witnessed that firsthand in his own life, when his children were involved in youth sports after moving to Florida from Minnesota. It was that experience that moved McKirahan into coaching youth sports in a way that aligned with his Christian faith.
sports
THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES is an international organization devoted to seeing the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. In the Sarasota County FCA, the organization follows four core values: Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence. The Sarasota County FCA strives to fulfill the organization’s mission in a multitude of ways, from hosting camps, events and sports programs to training coaches and having a presence in the schools of Sarasota County.
At FCA Sports, McKirahan focuses on developing programs within the community that align with Sarasota County FCA’s four core values. Some of these programs include the chapter’s involvement in Wellen Park—at CoolToday Park during the Atlanta Braves Spring Training, the organization has set up a tent outside the park to promote their work. At the Wellen Park Farmers Market, Sarasota County FCA runs the Braves’ Speed Pitch machine. FCA Sports is a new focus within the area. As such, some of the programs are just getting underway. There is FCA Lacrosse, a boys and girls youth lacrosse program, FCA Wrestling and a Young Adult Sports League for participants aged 18-30, which looks to have three seasons: flag football in the spring, grass volleyball in the summer and ultimate frisbee in the fall.
“There tends to be a gap in programs offered for young adults in that age range, so we wanted to step in and give them a space where they can
build community and fellowship, but also competition with one another,” says McKirahan. “It’s an incredible thing to see young adults playing these sports and praying with each other before and after games. We do sports differently than what a lot of people are used to seeing, they’re done at a different standard of behavior.” Coaching and mentorship is at the heart of what FCA does. FCA practices a “360” model of coaching, intended to build athletes in more ways than just physically. “The coach 360 model is meant to develop the athlete physically, mentally and spiritually. So we’re not just out here to develop physical skill. We’re out here to develop character, to develop resiliency, to develop gratitude and a service mindset, all of these life skills that will last these kids throughout their entire working career and beyond,” says McKirahan. As an organization intended to be welcoming to all prospective athletes, a large part of what the Sarasota County FCA does is philanthropic. Last year, the organization donated over $8,000 in athletic scholarships to break down financial barriers for families struggling to pay for sports. “When a family doesn’t have the financial means to put their kids through sports, we make sure they have that ability. If they need shoes, we get them shoes. If they need a lacrosse stick, we get them a lacrosse stick,” says McKirahan. “It’s really about just figuring out the needs of the community—if the athlete has the heart and wants to play, what do they need to be able to do so?” WPL
THIS PAGE McKirahan and his son Caleb, who he coaches on the FCA Lacrosse team. To learn more about Sarasota County FCA visit sarasotacountyfca.org
real estate ShineBright
THIS PAGE More than two dozen real estate professionals completed the first round of Diamond Club courses. The inaugural graduating class of the Wellen Park Diamond Club includes: Alex Bowermaster, Candy Brooks, Tiffany Clarke, Rocky Decker, Daralyn Duquette, Caleb Frick, Mathilde Frick, Robert Goldman, Anita Gross, Jim Hammar, Joanne Hammar, Shelley Rose Jennings, Amy Lipovetsky, Oleg Lisitsyn, Marianne Miller Melissa Mutkoski, Dennis Perkins, Tracy Pierce, Dane Renta, Tina Renta, Janet Shawen, Jane Slusarz, Shawn Strodoski, Cheryl Torres, Kasey Truman, Josh Wilson, Christina Yunes and Lenir Zvaigenhaft.
WP Diamond Club helps real estate professionals shine.
WORDS BY KATE WIGHT
BEING A REAL ESTATE AGENT IN WELLEN PARK MIGHT SEEM LIKE A DREAM JOB—spending days touring stunning homes, meeting new people and helping buyers find their perfect place. But behind the scenes, realtors put in countless hours researching neighborhoods, understanding market trends and ensuring their clients make informed decisions. A key part of matching buyers with the right home is knowing the community inside and out. Now, realtors have the chance to deepen their expertise and gain an edge in the market by joining the Wellen Park Diamond Club, a certification program designed to make them true Wellen Park specialists. The Wellen Park Diamond Club Certification is a program for real estate professionals aiming to specialize in the Wellen Park community. To earn this certification, realtors must attend four one-hour classes hosted by a Wellen Park Community Specialist. Between October and December of 2024, local real estate agents and brokers had the opportunity to attend the first round of Diamond Certification courses at Solis Hall in Downtown Wellen Park. “Each course brought valuable insights, but the Masterplan Masterclass was particularly impactful,” says Shawn Strodoski, a managing broker with Michael Saunders & Company who lives and works in the Wellen Park area. “Learning about the long-term vision of Wellen Park, including the thoughtful planning that goes into the infrastructure, amenities and sustainable growth, really stood out. Additionally, the Who’s Who in Wellen Park session was invaluable in understanding the key stakeholders and resources available to both agents and customers. Having those connections and insights is a great advantage in helping clients make informed decisions.”
Knowing a community well is crucial to real estate agents for several reasons. In addition to helping them effectively market properties, it allows them to better serve clients by matching them to the neighborhood that best aligns with their lifestyle. The Wellen Park Diamond Certification Course is designed to help realtors and brokers gain insight and local expertise. “The Wellen Park Diamond Certification was an excellent opportunity to deepen my understanding of the community and stay informed about all the exciting developments happening here. As a managing broker, I believe it’s essential to be a resource for my agents and ensure they have the knowledge and confidence to present Wellen Park as an exceptional place to live, work and play,” says Strodoski. “Having a firsthand understanding of the community’s offerings, future plans and key contacts allows agents to provide an elevated level of service. I’ve found that when agents are well-versed in the lifestyle and amenities, they are more effective in building genuine connections with buyers and sellers. It also sets them apart as local experts, which is invaluable in a competitive market.” WPL To learn more about the Wellen Park Diamond Club, visit www.wellenpark.com/diamond-club.
THIS PAGE
Raphael Meyers proposed to his future bride, Emmy Grate, on a beautiful day in Wellen Park with parents, Patricia and Mike Meyers nearby.
PicturePerfect
A Place to Grow Together. WORDS BY SOLYMAR
TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, MIKE MEYERS AND HIS FAMILY MOVED FROM STERLING, VIRGINIA, TO THEIR NEW HOME STATE OF FLORIDA. “My family and I fell in love with Wellen Park. The downtown area reminded us of Northern Virginia, where town center communities are everywhere,” says Mike. “While touring the Wellen Park community, we finished the day at Lakespur. The lot was right on a lake, and when we got there, the sun was setting behind the water and it was a picture-perfect moment.”
ESTRELLA
residents
IN THE EARLY 2000S, MIKE TOOK A TRIP TO BRAZIL that changed his perspective on the world. “I started thinking, what sort of organization would be able to help these at-risk kids in the best way possible and give them the hope and the opportunities that they need to succeed?” he says. Starting the organization Open Arms Worldwide, Mike and his team mobilize God’s people to bring hope to at-risk children and youth at home and around the world. The organization sees a world in which children have the tools to discover the future that is ahead of them. Mike was attracted to Florida to continue to pursue his career as a pastor. Currently, the Family Pastor at CenterPointe Christian Church in Venice, Mike finds fulfillment in seeing the community and its residents grow through his teachings. As a pastor, he is a respected figure both inside and outside the church.
Mike recalls the day his son Raphael got engaged to his fiancée. Four excited girls scurried to tell their friends about what was about to happen under the tree outside Banyan House restaurant, onlookers stopped and stayed in place on
their daily walks and candles and roses lay beneath the tree as Raphael got ready to propose. Twenty-four hours prior, Raphael didn’t have a ring, a location, flowers or a plan, and there he was, awaiting the moment his soon-to-be fiancée finished dinner. Everything fell right into place that late evening in early November to create this picture-perfect moment for Raphael, his now fiancée, their families, the four girls and the onlookers of Downtown Wellen Park.
As Wellen Park continues to grow, residents see it as a place where generations come together to create lasting memories. With young families strolling through Downtown and the energy of a community still unfolding, there is a future filled with possibilities for the community. “There’s so much life and space for even more life to be brought in by the residents,” Mike reflects. “What is this going to be 10 years from now? There’s just so much going on.” For Mike and his family, Wellen Park isn’t just a place to live, it’s a place to build and be a part of a great community. WPL
parting shot
ENJOYING WELLEN PARK
Two wheels and big smiles create lasting memories in Wellen Park.
