Sarasota to consider private development at Ken Thompson Park, as residents cite concerns

Between the mainland and the barrier islands, with its sweeping views of the downtown skyline and the blue-green water of the Sarasota Bay, the view from a bench at Ken Thompson Park is among the finest Sarasota has to offer.

However, a recent proposal for private development of the space has divided residents and raised fundamental questions about the park’s purpose.

City leaders are still considering a proposal by Ride Entertainment to revamp the park through a public-private partnership that would bring in new attractions – both paid and free. The Parks, Recreation & Environmental Protection Advisory Board is scheduled to consider the issue at an April 18 meeting, including whether it fits with Sarasota's 2019 Parks Master Plan.

Advisory board Chairman Leo Fitzgerald said in an email that his committee will hold a hearing with Ride Entertainment Sarasota – the developer behind the proposal – after a recent City Commission vote for panel to consider it.

“We look forward to a full presentation by Ride Entertainment, sufficient time for public comment and for any questions board members may have,” Fitzgerald said.

The City Commission presentation on the proposal by Ride Entertainment co-owner Jeffrey Koffman received significant public pushback at the Feb. 5 meeting. Koffman was introduced to the chamber by City Commissioner Erik Arroyo with a pitch to bring a park golf course to the park. The developer told the chamber he co-owns Park Golf Entertainment − the exclusive marketing arm of the International Park Golf Association of America.

What was not mentioned is that Arroyo is listed as a registered agent for both Park Golf Entertainment and Koffman's other company, Park Golf Entertainment Orlando, according to Florida business records. According to the meeting's agenda item, the proposal was added at Arroyo's request, and he was listed as a co-presenter.

"I have no involvement with Ride Entertainment," Arroyo said in a text message. "But it has come to my knowledge that an entity that I serve as a Registered Agent for could potentially be involved."

State records show Arroyo served as the Park Golf Entertainment's registered agent since at least Jan. 2023. Arroyo added that it could keep him from voting on the project in front of the city commission, although he already voted in February to explore the project.

Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch demonstrated the most opposition among the city officials, questioning the results of a private study conducted by Kimley-Horn concluding the park was under-utilized.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to explore the project, with Mayor Liz Alpert, Arroyo and Kyle Battie in support.

Sarasota's Ken Thompson Park pitched for zip line, restaurant, park golf course

The park is named after the long-time city manager, who, from 1950 to 1988, oversaw Sarasota’s rapid growth from a sleepy circus town to one of the Gulf Coast's premier destinations.

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.

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

“Sarasota will be the home of Park Golf USA,” the presentation said.

Richard Harris, president of the Sarasota Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, said his group is preparing a statement opposing the proposal.

“Any project that limits or diminishes public access to a park – we’re going to oppose it,” Harris said. “Any future project for any park and our city has to enhance public use of that park.”

“Private sector expertise often leads to more innovative and efficient solutions,” the presentation said, which “encourages creative approaches to problem-solving.”

It was unclear what problems at Ken Thompson Park would require solutions.

Park golf advocate says park with prime location needs more

Koffman first wants people to understand that he does not want a complete privatization of Ken Thompson Park, nor would the park be closed off to the public. What Koffman wants, he said, is to revitalize a property he thinks gets far too few visitors for the quality of its location.

Koffman said the city would retain ownership of the park, with a revenue-sharing system determined by the project scope if it comes to fruition.

After Mote Marine Laboratory relocates to its new site at Nathan Benderson Park, Koffman expects traffic in the area to diminish, which he said should ease any increased attendance to the park.

The developer bristled at charges that he is trying to privatize Ken Thompson to build an amusement park and those whose main criticism of his proposal is the amount of traffic that may congest the area.

“It’s not about traffic; it’s about activation,” Koffman said. "One of the things (the presentation) talks about is doing things for the adult lifestyle, and that’s what park golf is.”

Koffman spoke of park golf as an evangelist. He said that with its ease of play, it can catch on in a city with Sarasota’s older demographic.

“We hope to make park golf for golf what pickleball is for tennis,” Koffman said.

Koffman compared the plan for Ken Thompson Park to the Bobby Jones Golf Club or Payne Park Tennis Center − city properties with free amenities and paid attractions. Park golf’s revenue could pay for things like a topiary garden, a splash pad, and workout equipment.

Another public component Koffman stressed as a key to mitigating the traffic was a water taxi, a years-long discussion item he thinks could finally take off with the help of private enterprise.

“If I live in Lido, I can now plan on taking a water taxi to the city to have dinner or catch a show,” Koffman said. “I don’t have to worry about 'I may be stuck in an hour of traffic getting off the key.'”

Barrier island residents raise concerns

Two presidents of the residents’ associations at the barrier islands — Carl Shoffstall at Lido Key and Chris Goglia at St. Armands, which are respectively part of Harris’ CCNA— expressed concerns about the park proposal.

Shoffstall, a former city commission candidate who was recognized by Sarasota at a March 5 meeting for his work on the parks advisory board, said that when he was on the panel, members regularly recommended the city refrain from allowing commercial enterprises into public parks.

He said that while he has nothing against private enterprise, he also didn’t see what the city had to gain when he saw no reason the city couldn’t fund the improvements he thinks the park needs — which include more trees, shade, and a new playground.

“Now, we’re at this thing where they want to try to commercialize this park,” Shoffstall said. “Brother, the citizens don’t want it, I don’t want it, and I’m against it. It’s not going to do anything to benefit the city to give away park space to a private enterprise.”

Goglia said his association hasn’t taken a formal position on the proposal; he personally doesn’t see a reason to change Ken Thompson Park’s purpose. What the oceanside site should be, he said, depends on one’s idea of a park.

“My idea of a park is benches and picnic tables, peacefulness and shade,” Goglia said. “If you ask me if the park is being properly utilized, I would say yes, it absolutely is. It’s serving its purpose perfectly.”

Goglia also said many in his community may have problems with the congestion that would come with an influx of new visitors to the park.

“Everyone out here thinks traffic is the biggest problem on the barrier islands,” Goglia said. "People get a little anxious about things out here that could impact traffic.”

All too familiar with the stand-still traffic sometimes required to reach the mainland, Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton is concerned that a bustling attraction on City Island could make the drive on the John Ringling Causeway even more unbearable.

“It’s already a bottleneck, and it’s potentially only going to get worse, so that’s just not an option anybody wants to explore.”

Tipton said Longboat Key commissioners have had informal conversations on the matter and have told their constituents to pay attention to it. Town officials plan on attending the April parks board meeting and staying in contact with their counterparts in Sarasota. Tipton credited Longboat Key’s ability to share concerns on impacts to the island – along with Lido Key and St. Armands – as an example of what he said was their good working relationship with the city of Sarasota.

However, the town manager also said he doesn’t see the need for a significant revamp of Ken Thomson Park by a private corporation, especially when he feels the city can make upgrades itself.

“I think the park has been one of those great places for years where you can go down and look out over the bay, watch as the sun sets, look out and watch the city change colors. It’s a great place to watch fireworks. It’s just been a community gathering place for years, and we just hate to lose that,” Tipton said.

The parks board meeting with Ride Entertainment will be on Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Chambers.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota considers private partnership, park golf at Ken Thompson Park