Sarasota County residents who own a home taxed at $300,000 pay about $75 a year toward parks and environmentally sensitive lands. Whether that quarter-mill tax continues past 2029 will be on the November ballot, and a new 10-year plan for Snook Haven Regional Park in Venice shows where the money would go.

Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Shawn Yeager sent the concept plan and an accompanying memo to county commissioners on July 27, according to Sun Newspapers. The document lays out three phases of improvements running through 2036: short-term (2026-2028), mid-term (2029-2031) and long-term (2032-2036).

Yeager called the plan a "living" document because costs beyond the short-term phase are largely still to be determined.

What's in the plan

The short-term phase, already underway with a new food service facility set to open this fall, includes connecting the property to sewer service and removing wastewater ponds, renovating structures in Sleeping Turtles Preserve South for offices and volunteer housing, enhancing trail access, opening Oak Grove in the campground to the public and restoring the River House.

Wild hogs have caused extensive damage to the campground since it closed, Yeager's memo noted.

Mid-term work (2029-2031) calls for elevating the historically designated River House at an estimated cost of $250,000, opening a one-way drive to a future events center in the preserve, adding parking and trails, and building an outdoor classroom and event venue in the campground.

The long-term phase (2032-2036) focuses on studying a multi-use recreational trail along the south side of East Venice Avenue into the park and continuing structure renovations.

How it's paid for

Short-term improvements have been funded primarily through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program and Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program, both supported by the 0.25-mill voter-approved property tax. That tax equals 25 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.

The tax expires in 2029.

A referendum on the November ballot would extend it to 2049 if voters approve. Yeager's memo acknowledged that additional funding will be needed for mid- and long-term work. Revenue from restarted concession operations and the planned 2027 opening of Snook Haven Campground is expected to help.

The bigger picture

The county bought the original 2.5-acre Snook Haven fish camp in 2006 and has since assembled more than 40 additional acres, including the former Camp Venice property now called Snook Haven Campground. The vision positions the park as a trailhead connecting thousands of acres of protected land, including Sleeping Turtles Preserve South, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and Jelks Preserve. A new multi-use recreational trail along both sides of a widened River Road would serve as part of the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, ultimately linking Tampa and Naples.

In his memo, Yeager said the park improvements would serve regional tourism and provide recreational access for thousands of new housing units and commercial developments within two miles of the park.

What's next

The plan goes before the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee on Aug. 6 and the Parks Advisory and Recreation Council on Sept. 3, before reaching the County Commission. A date for commission consideration has not been announced.

Residents can attend either advisory meeting to hear the presentation and offer comment.