Nathan Benderson Park

Nathan Benderson Park, previously known as North Metro Park and then Cooper Creek Park, is a 600-acre (240 ha) park that incorporates a 400-acre (160 ha) artificial lake in Sarasota, Florida, USA. The lake was excavated to provide fill for the construction of Interstate 75. The lake is a rowing venue and hosted the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

Nathan Benderson Park
North Metro Park, Cooper Creek Park
Nathan Benderson Park Finish Tower
Nathan Benderson Park highlighted in green
LocationSarasota County, Florida
Coordinates27.374°N 82.451°W / 27.374; -82.451
Area600 acres (2.4 km2)
Established1995 (1995) (North Metro Park)
2014 (2014) (Nathan Benderson Park)
Managed bySuncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates,Inc. (SANCA)
OpenYear round
Public transit accessSarasota County Area Transit
Websitenathanbendersonpark.org

History

The area was originally used as pasture land. The land was excavated for Interstate 75, which runs to the east of the lake. The section of Interstate 75 between U.S. Route 301 north of the lake, to River Road near Venice further south opened in 1981. Cooper Creek flows through the lake and drains in Braden River further north. In 1995, the land changed ownership from APAC-Florida Incorporated to Sarasota County for US$2.2 million. Sarasota County named the area North Metro Park. At the time, access was by dirt road only from The Meadows, a community immediately to the west, and recreational use apart from motor boats was permitted.[1]

In 2003, the Benderson Development Company moved to an area immediately north of the park. A year later, the park's name was changed to Cooper Creek Park. From 2005 onwards, Benderson Development Co. leased the northernmost 101 acres of the park. The company then donated US$1 million to Sarasota County and was given naming rights in return, and the name changed to Nathan Benderson Park on November 20, 2007, after the company's founder. Benderson Development Co. was then given approval to develop 276 acres adjacent to the park, and in return was required to develop a master plan for the park, management plan, and construction plan for further development. The concept plan was approved in 2010, and the development plan the following year. Also in 2010, a non-profit organization was set up for the management of the park – Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates Inc. (SANCA). North Cattlemen Road was realigned in 2012 so that a regatta course meeting the requirements of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) could be established. In 2013, the lake was lengthened and deepened, and an island created to reduce wave action. Nathan Benderson Park officially opened to the public in 2014.[1] North Cattlemen Road provides the main access to the venue.[2]

Event history

During 2009, the first four rowing regattas were held on the lake. In 2013, president Barack Obama, put his support behind Sarasota County's bid to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships.[1] The other applicant for the regatta was Plovdiv in Bulgaria, which had hosted the 2012 World Rowing Championships. Officials from FISA visited Nathan Benderson Park in April 2013.[3] Later in 2013, the championships were awarded to Sarasota. Since the 2017 World Rowing Championships, the park was host for the 2018 World Rowing Masters Regatta and the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships.

In 2014, the lake was used by the International Breast Cancer Paddlers' Commission for a dragon boating convention. In 2015, the first stage of the Modern Pentathlon World Cup was held on the lake, and in the following year, the final race was held at Nathan Benderson Park. The USRowing Youth Nationals were held on the lake in 2015 and 2017, and are in a three-year run from 2019 to 2021.[4]

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References
  1. "From pasture to sandpit to a world-class venue: Nathan Benderson Park history". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  2. "Park History". Nathan Benderson Park. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  3. "FISA visits Sarasota World Rowing Championships bid venue". International Rowing Federation. April 28, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  4. Sullivan, Robert (October 1, 2016). "Nathan Benderson Park: A Classic Reclamation Project". National Recreation and Park Association. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
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