Proposal for Sarasota's Ken Thompson Park pulled from advisory board meeting by developer

Christian Casale, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
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A rendering of Ken Thompson Park as envisioned by Ride Entertainment, the company that had proposed to create an amusement park. A city official said the proposal had been removed from the meeting agenda for an advisory that was to review the idea.
A rendering of Ken Thompson Park as envisioned by Ride Entertainment, the company that had proposed to create an amusement park. A city official said the proposal had been removed from the meeting agenda for an advisory that was to review the idea.

The proposal for private development at Sarasota's Ken Thompson Park has been shelved.

Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson emailed the City Commission and local stakeholders Wednesday saying the proposal to overhaul Ken Thompson Park had been removed from the meeting agenda for an advisory board that was set to review the idea.

"Ride Entertainment has made the decision to remove their item/presentation scheduled for April 18" Parks, Recreation & Environmental Protection Advisory Board meeting, Robinson wrote, according to the email obtained by the Herald-Tribune.

Jeffrey Koffman, the owner of Ride Entertainment, presented the idea to city leaders in February. The commission voted 3-2 − with Mayor Alpert, Commissioner Arroyo, and Commissioner in favor − to send the item to the advisory board.

The controversial development's centerpiece was a park golf course, for which visitors would be charged. Opponents of the plan criticized any paid amenities at a public park. They said the city could make necessary improvements to the park, which Koffman said would pay for through the profits from his proposed park.

Some of the thrills and amenities Koffman pitched to the City Commission for the new park included a zip line, water taxi, refurbished beach, potentially a restaurant and “aerobar,” and a park golf course as the centerpiece greenspace.

A Herald-Tribune inquiry found that Arroyo was a registered agent for a company Koffman said he wanted to use to build the course.

Ken Thompson Park, on City Island, overlooking the boat ramp, canoe and kayak launch and Save Our Seabirds, upper right.
Ken Thompson Park, on City Island, overlooking the boat ramp, canoe and kayak launch and Save Our Seabirds, upper right.

Arroyo said at an April 1 City Commission meeting that he wasn't aware the company he represented for Koffman would be the same one used for the Ken Thompson Development and that he would recuse himself from future votes at the city attorney's recommendation.

Koffman did not respond to a request for comment before publication.

The developer told the chamber he co-owns Park Golf Entertainment − the exclusive marketing arm of the International Park Golf Association of America.

The presentation described park golf – which originated in Japan – as “a sport between golf and croquet, or ‘mini-golf on steroids.’”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ken Thompson Park proposal pulled from meeting agenda by developer