$200 million Sarasota bayfront park names new CEO

The Bay Park Conservancy, a transformative $200 million project on 53 prime acres on Sarasota Bay in downtown Sarasota, has a new CEO.  

The new leader is Stephanie Crockatt, who previously ran a nonprofit park system in Buffalo, New York. Crockatt replaces Founding Bay Park Conservancy CEO A.G. Lafley, who had overseen the project — on a volunteer basis — since 2019. 

Lafley will stay on through the transition to maintain the project’s momentum. 

“At The Bay, we know the importance of being sustainable in every way – environmentally, financially, and operationally,” Lafley says in a statement. “Stephanie is the right person in the right place at the right time. She has the combination of experiences and skills BPC needs to complete the build-out of the park and the build-up of the park conservancy.”

Crockatt, in the first permanent position, will now be responsible for building out the park, a public-private partnership with the city of Sarasota. The as been responsible for designing and developing The Bay. Once open, the nonprofit's duties will shift to operating, maintaining and programming the park.

To support BPC operations, maintenance, programming and endowment, Crockatt will partially focus on bringing in funding. according to the statement. Crockatt will report directly to BPC Board Chair Jennifer Compton while also working closely with the BPC Executive Committee, board and staff. 

“I am looking forward to working with Stephanie as we continue to deliver on BPC’s mission for our community,” Compton says in the release. “Together, Stephanie and I, the board and the park conservancy staff, will endeavor to complete the design and development of a signature park for Sarasota and build a strong dedicated park conservancy team that delivers a delightful park guest experience every day at The Bay.”

Crockatt comes into the role with development and fundraising experience as the former executive director of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, the first U.S. nonprofit to manage and operate an urban park system made up of six Olmsted-designed parks over 850 acres. 

She held that role for nine years, during which Crockatt secured park maintenance funding, annual fundraising from private donors, millions of dollars in capital support and a foundation gift that ensured sustainable conservancy operations. Crockatt also helped complete more than 50 capital restoration projects.  

"I am filled with great enthusiasm and excitement to join The Bay Park Conservancy and be given the honor and privilege to serve as its first president and CEO,” Crockatt says. "Conservancies are such important public-private partners, and I know this nonprofit will become one of the leading examples of park innovation, community engagement and mission-driven success. Coming to Sarasota in this capacity feels amazing and I am looking forward to being part of this beautiful city and its robust culture."

The park’s first phase, a 14-acre area, opened last October. In May, development of the next 14 acres will begin. That phase alone is estimated to cost $65 million with the entire park costing between $175-200 million. It’s pegged to take eight to 10 years to complete. Funding for the park is approximately 50% public, derived from a tax increment financing district in the downtown area around the park, and 50% private funding and grants.