Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Sarasota has rescheduled the planned dedication ceremony for Overtown Square to Oct. 2, at 10 a.m.
Located on 0.24 acres in the Rosemary District, Overtown Square has tables, benches, umbrellas, custom pavers, and landscaping featuring 16 new trees of various species, including Silver Buttonwood, West Indian Mahogany, and Crape Myrtle.
“Creating a park in the Rosemary District was first identified in the Sarasota Master Plan over 20 years ago,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle. “Since then, the district has grown, increasing the desire for open green space.
“The community’s commitment to building this park was unwavering, from helping to buy the land to sharing feedback on the design and naming the park.”
To bridge the gap between the appraised property value and the proposed sale price, residents and friends of the Rosemary District contributed $120,000 toward the purchase in January 2021.
“In late 2020, thanks to a joint effort by several dedicated residents and then-City Manager Tom Barwin, a landowner in the Rosemary District agreed to sell, but at a price $120,000 higher than the city could afford,” said Commissioner Debbie Trice. “The community and friends had less than a month to make up the difference, and we did it.
“Residents, businesses, nonprofits, and visitors all chipped in, even accepting small change from passersby. As a result, Overtown Square is truly a community park.”
The square was named to honor Sarasota’s first Black community, Overtown. A historical marker will be erected in the park to detail the significance of the Overtown community.
