• AT A GLANCE
• Dog parks and fitness centers outrank athletic fields.
• “The reality is a larger number of people use bike trails and dog parks; they don’t play organized sports.”

Preliminary findings from a countywide parks-and-recreation study rank improvements to existing amenities, plus the creation of dog parks and fitness centers, over the expansion of athletic fields.

Announced Tuesday at the Sarasota County County Commission meeting, the findings will guide development of a long-range master plan for parks, preserves and recreation. But they came as a surprise to commissioners, who had expected demand for sports facilities to rank higher.

Constituents repeatedly have asked for more athletic fields, commissioners said. The fact the study found otherwise not only defies reality, they said, but raises questions about its validity.

The county signed a $299,800 contract with Toole Design Group in February to create the master plan, which included the gathering of public input through workshops, focus groups, special events and surveys conducted both online and by mail.

Consultant David Barth, who has led master plan development nationwide, said he’s not surprised by the findings.

“This is typical in almost every community we walk into,” Barth told commissioners. “The perception of need is based on who is most vocal, but the reality is a larger number of people use bike trails and dog parks; they don’t play organized sports. These findings are not surprising to us.”

The county’s own comprehensive plan calls for more recreational facilities, with a goal of one baseball or softball field per 2,500 residents and one soccer or football field per 4,200 residents.

It currently has 78 of the former and 56 of the latter — falling short of the goal already this year with the gap progressively widening.

According to the 52-page preliminary study, Sarasota County already lacks 22 baseball/softball diamonds and four soccer/football fields. Based on projected population growth, it will need an additional 43 and 16 such facilities, respectively, by 2035.

The numbers, said Commissioner Alan Maio, are “shocking.”

“We failed to follow our comprehensive plan in regards to this,” said Commissioner Charles Hines. “We’ve been collecting impact fees. Cities have impact fees sitting in the bank; let’s use them to address this need now.”

More than 5,000 people provided feedback, Barth said, with the majority expressing satisfaction with the parks system overall but wanting updated amenities — because existing amenities are either old or need repairs or because of changing trends.

As for spending priorities, Barth cited improvements to and expansion of beach parks, park restrooms, hiking-biking-walking trails, as well as creating more public access at existing preserves and connectivity among parks.

“So for the next five to 10 years,” Barth said, “you should focus on improving on what you have while selectively deciding if you need more.”

Sarasota County has 160 parks, preserves, beaches and trails covering more than 55,000 acres. It adopts master plans for its parks system every decade or so. Work on the ongoing master plan will continue.

TOP 10 CHOICES

Top 10 choices for where county should allocate parks-and-recreation money, according to preliminary findings from a study:

1. Beach parks

2. Park restrooms

3. Hiking, walking, and biking trails

4. Public access at existing preserves

5. Shelters/pavilions/picnic areas

6. Playgrounds

7. Connectivity between park locations

8. Water access for non-motorized water vessels

9. Athletic fields

10. Outdoor swimming pools/ spray fields

CLICK HERE to see the results of Sarasota County’s parks-and-recreation master plan study.