Sarasota businesses help with free programming at park

Sarasota area businesses and business leaders are essential to make free park programming sustainable at The Bay, a new downtown park that's become a beloved gathering place for the full and rich diversity of the Sarasota community.

In just the first year, more than 250,000 park guests have come to the park and 40,000 people have participated in one or more of the free park programs.

The Bay strives to be sustainable in every way as it preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis — revitalizing what was once a parking lot into a dynamic public park.

But the differentiator and what makes The Bay unique is how well the park is activated. Daily, weekly, monthly and annual programming keeps park guests coming back — and attracts new guests to the park.

The Bay offers a broad range of programs — arts and entertainment, health and fitness, nature and discovery — something for everyone to enjoy.

Take a walk to be with nature or watch a movie under the stars. Enjoy a free concert in the park or explore Sarasota Bay in a kayak. Get your heart pumping at a fitness class or get your feet moving at a dance party.

Regardless of interest, every program, event and activity at The Bay is open and accessible, free and welcoming to everyone in the community — delivering on The Bay’s promise of “One Park for All."

To date, The Bay has been able to offer free programming in large part due to the generosity of 100+ business partners, each contributing $2,500 or more. New businesses are becoming partners. Current business partners are renewing their partnerships. All recognize the importance and impact that free park programming can have on our community.

Learn more about how your business can become a business partner of The Bay and how the first $1,000 of every new business partnership and every renewed partnership will be matched through Dec. 31. To learn more go to TheBaySarasota.org.

–AG Lafley

A Sarasota resident, Lafley is the current and founding president and CEO of the Bay Park Conservancy. Lafley was also president and CEO of consumer goods makler Procter & Gamble from 2000 to 2010 and again from 2013 to 2015.