Sarasota realtor Mike Payne’s kids give big “thumb’s up” to Sarasota’s latest (and BEST, I might add) Silver LEED certified park at the corner of Bee Ridge and Honore.
Sarasota's newest LEED-certified family park in east Sarasota!
Located at the corner of Honore and Bee Ridge is Sarasota’s newest family park, Urfer Family Park.
Urfer Family Park
4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota
Sarasota cannot offer enough THANKS to Jack and Thelma Urfer, Sarasota County government officials & the Parks and Recreation team for this amazing gift. Certainly, the Urfer Family Park would not be the park it is without the Urfer’s GENEROUS $1,000,000 gift to the county to develop the park!
Mr. Jack Urfer attends Grand Opening of Urfer Family Park to the kids' delight!
Urfer Park provides a unique combination of recreational and learning opportunities. The park offers playgrounds for toddlers through teens….
Urfer Park includes awesome playground equipment!
Lines form quickly for thrilling skate rails at Urfer Park
…and the park offers a 1-mile nature trail, with boardwalks over wetlands, winds through the diverse eco-systems, through upland scrub and oak hammocks, and adjacent to a small working cattle ranch.
Urfer Park offers 1-mile nature trail allowing kids to burn off a little energy while stopping to try out the exercise equipment along the path!
Signs throughout the park provide descriptions of natural and sustainable features. How cool to enjoy cattle surrounded by suburbia. Ya gotta love it, when these city slickers don’t get a chance to see real cows. 
Urfer Family Park shows city slickers real cows!
Home to cattle, tortoise and scores of native Florida plants, the 55-acre Urfer Family Park will continue to serve as a refuge for flora and fauna while providing fun for young and old alike.
As Sarasota County’s first Silver LEED certified park, Urfer Family Park represents a new milestone in sustainability. Water conservation will be achieved utilizing a dual approach:
- First, the goal is to reduce irrigation demand by the careful selection of native and drought tolerant plant materials, along with low-flow irrigation devices. The design and construction selected native landscape materials that are compatible with the smaller eco-systems on the project site, enhancing the project goals to conserve the original wildlife sanctuaries and natural environment of the park. The reduction in irrigation demand due to these strategies is expected to exceed 50%. Awesome!
- The second approach to water conservation is through the use of very low-flow plumbing devices, such as dual flush water closets and low flow shower heads. The expected reduction in water use through these devices is 30%. Great news!
One of the more unique characteristics of the project will be the rehabilitated C. B. Wilson House, a historic structure constructed circa 1917. It will be open to the public, providing space to the community for public meetings and functions. The second floor will house offices for the Friends of Sarasota County Parks and for Sarasota County Park staff.
What’s a grand opening without fun-food? After some “hard” playing, my kids take a break….on a beautiful “winter” day in sunny Sarasota, Florida.
Thank goodness, kids give their parents a break once in a while!
Another beautiful day in sunny Sarasota, Florida!
And you thought Sarasota was just palm trees & white sandy beaches!
Sarasota proudly presents and enjoys Urfer Family Park. Thank you, Sarasota & Mr. & Mrs. Urfer, for this wonderful gift guaranteed to bring happiness for years to come. Have you been to this park? Please share your thoughts below. If it’s time for you to buy a home or sell a house in or around Sarasota, please call me. I want to be your Sarasota Realtor. Of course, call me with your real estate questions. I’m happy to help.
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