Manatee County plans to honor late Commissioner Carol Ann Felts, who passed away suddenly last week at 68. The board will vote today on naming part of Crane Park, in Myakka City, where Felts lived, the Carol Ann Felts Preserve.
Felts wasn’t just a commissioner. She was an eighth-generation Floridian and a fierce defender of rural life, the environment, and the unique heritage of Myakka City. Long before she won her seat in 2024, she was a fixture at county meetings, always showing up to fight for her neighbors and speak up for what mattered to her. That drive didn’t stop when she took office.
Commissioner Amanda Ballard, who brought the proposal forward, remembers Felts as “fiery, spunky, and energetic.” She said, “Carol was a citizen activist for so long—everyone knew her and exactly what she cared about. She loved the wild places in Florida. That park in Myakka was really special to her.”
Crane Park itself is more than just a patch of green. It’s a community hub with a playground, picnic spots, and sweeping views of the Myakka River. Last year, the county bought extra land to expand the park to nearly 40 acres. Felts pushed for that, and the prospect of new facilities and wetland restoration thrilled her. “I hope we’ll enjoy that additional part of the park,” she said at the time.
Ballard’s proposal to name the expansion after Felts highlights her legacy: “Carol Ann Felts fought for old Florida, for wild spaces, for the history and rural industries of Manatee County. She was an unwavering advocate for our residents, for nature, for the animals out east. She worked tirelessly, whether she had a seat on the dais or not.”
Felts’ time as commissioner was brief, but her impact runs deep. Ballard’s tribute in the board agenda sums it up: “Her untimely death cut short her representation, but her memory will remain a blessing to people throughout the County—especially those she represented. She loved Crane Park as a piece of paradise in the country, and in 2025 helped expand it by 13 acres, benefiting the Myakka River and local wildlife like gopher tortoises, sand-hill cranes, and crested caracaras.”
The board will vote on the tribute during its regular meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, inside the Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
