Right now, there’s a single-family house on the lot, but hurricanes Helene and Milton left both the home and dock in rough shape. The county plans to tear them down, clearing the way for more parkland and easier access to the water.

This new parcel brings 105 feet of shoreline into public hands. It’s packed with cabbage palms and mangroves, and the county’s hoping to turn it into a spot for fishing, birdwatching, and sightseeing. Since it sits right next to Indian Mound Park at 210 Winson Ave., the purchase lets the county stretch the park’s boundaries and give residents more room to play by the water.

What’s next? County planners will draw up a concept for the combined parks. They’re looking at adding things like more parking, picnic shelters, and improved water access.

Nicole Rissler, who leads the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department, explains, “Adding this waterfront parcel to Indian Mound Park expands public access to the water and creates new opportunities for recreation. It’s a meaningful investment in a waterfront park that will serve both today’s residents and future generations.”

The money for this project came out of the Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program, a fund that exists because Sarasota County voters said yes to using tax dollars to buy more public land.

Indian Mound Park is already a community fixture. It’s got a boat launch, picnic spots, and ancient shell middens that date back as far as 1,000 B.C. With this new stretch of shoreline, the county’s making sure residents can enjoy Lemon Bay for years to come.

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