A new park is coming to the Parrish area, with several amenities meant to provide the recreational and community gathering space that residents have been seeking for years.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners recently approved $15.4 million for Parrish Community Park, which will be built on Fort Hamer Road, near Parrish Community High School.
It is part of a larger plan for a town center, which will feature a new State College of Florida campus, Parrish Community High School and an aquatic center.
The park is packed with features to make the most of the 11.5 acre space. Architectural renderings show off a wooden boardwalk, a splash pad area, various playgrounds and a performance pavilion. There are also designated food truck parking spots for events.
“This has been a long time in the making,” said Jennifer Hamey, president of the Parrish Civic Association. “We’re kind of a bedroom community. We don’t have a lot of commercial. This is a lot of what people have been asking for — places to take their kids, have some conservation area and green space.”
After hosting town halls and surveying residents over the past several years, the Parrish Civic Association has been the leading supporter of a park in the area.
Parrish Community Park is also set to feature 20 fitness stations, picnic pavilions, restrooms and other amenities. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for Aug. 11, and the park is expected to open by the end of 2024.
“It’s just exciting,” said Commissioner James Satcher, who praised county staffers for taking care to design the park in a way that keeps children within view of their parents. “It’s going to be a good thing for everyone involved.”
“This is going to be a tremendous asset out there in Parrish,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge added.
An architectural rendering for Parrish Community Park shows off several amenities, including a wooden boardwalk, a splash pad area, various playgrounds and a performance pavilion. There are also designated food truck parking spots for events.
Parrish sees funding for community spaces
Thanks to a 120’ by 120’ shade structure and event lawn, the park will be able to host festivals, plays and other community events. Hamey said she looks forward to the park’s ability to introduce neighbors to one another.
“I think it’s a very exciting time for Parrish,” said Hamey. “I’m glad that with all the growth that has come in, we’ll have a community park to bring us all together.”
According to Manatee County’s Capital Improvement Plan, there are also plans to develop a second phase of Parrish Community Park, which will provide another public swimming pool north of the Manatee River.
“The need was identified for additional facilities in north county to provide services to area residents. The surrounding neighborhoods near the future North County Aquatic Facility all incorporate beautiful recreation swimming pools, but there is still a lack of competitive swim lanes throughout the county,” county staff wrote.
County officials hope to add a competitive lap pool, as well as a “shallow play pool with water features,” the latest version of the CIP says. The competitive pool, which is expected to accommodate tournaments and other programs, will be 25 yards by 25 meters with 10 lap lanes.
The pool facility at Parrish Community Park is expected to cost about $13 million. Construction is not set to begin until 2025 with the goal of completing the aquatic center by the end of 2027.
An architectural rendering for Parrish Community Park shows off the various playground areas for children. There are also plans to build a splash pad area and boardwalks on the 11.5-acre property.