Construction crews will soon be working on three historic buildings at Warm Mineral Springs Park after North Port broke ground July 27 on a $16.7 million rehabilitation project at the National Register of Historic Places site. Sarasota County and North Port jointly own the 80-acre property, which draws more than 150,000 visitors a year.
City leaders, community members and project partners gathered for a ceremony called "Hats on for Progress" at the park, located at 12200 San Servando Ave. The 16-month construction timeline puts a potential grand opening in late 2027.
"Warm Mineral Springs Park is a nationally recognized historic site, a natural resource and an economic asset," City Manager Jerome Fletcher said at the ceremony. "This project represents an investment in the responsible stewardship of that asset while preserving an important part of North Port's history."
What the project includes
The three buildings were constructed in 1959 and designed by Jack West, a leader of the Sarasota School of Architecture. They were built to house a Florida Quadricentennial celebration and were added to the National Register in 2019.
Each building gets a different level of work:
- Admission Building: Full historic rehabilitation and floodproofing, with space for admissions, staff operations, public restrooms and meetings.
- Spa Building: A hybrid rehabilitation that will create an open-air pavilion and shaded gathering space while preserving West's distinctive exterior. Family-style restrooms and outdoor showers are included.
- Cyclorama: Roof repairs, floodproofing and stabilization, then mothballed under historic preservation guidelines until future funding allows a full restoration.
Parking improvements, utility upgrades and landscaping are also part of the scope.
How it's funded
The North Port City Commission approved Ordinance No. 2026-19 on second reading at its July 7 meeting, authorizing a $4,082,133 budget amendment to cover rising construction costs. The project previously had $12.6 million available; the additional funding brought the guaranteed maximum price to approximately $16.7 million.
Five revenue sources fund the work: the Warm Mineral Springs Fund, Environmental Protection Fund, Utilities Revenue Fund, Park Impact Fees and Surtax.
Parks and Recreation Director Sandy Pfundheller said the improvements will protect the site's historic structures, support long-term operations and position the park for future generations.
Project partners and what's next
Wharton-Smith is the construction manager. Other partners include Kimley-Horn and Associates, Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors and the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, which endorsed the rehabilitation plan when the City Commission unanimously approved the project scope on Sept. 10, 2024.
Work begins immediately.
The two governments purchased the springs property for $5.5 million in December 2010 to protect it from development. In May 2026, the commission voted 5-0 to support key pieces of a conservation easement for the surrounding parkland.
Residents can track construction updates at NorthPortFL.gov/WMSPMasterPlan.
