Design Services for Wellfield Regional Park Improvements

Sarasota County is seeking professional design services for the Wellfield Regional Park Improvements project through a Request for Professional Services (RPS) solicitation numbered 252731MN. The project involves comprehensive planning, design, and permitting to transform the approximately 80-acre Wellfield Park, currently hosting multiple sports fields and athletic facilities, into a county regional park. The City of Venice has transferred ownership of the park to Sarasota County, with a collaborative goal of redevelopment. Proposers must submit qualifications through the OpenGov Procurement portal and must have registered professional engineers, architects, and landscape architects on their project team. The scope encompasses extensive planning services, including regional parks master planning, operational planning, and due diligence for Wellfield Park, Bypass Park, and Pinebrook Park. Qualified consultants must demonstrate experience in master planning, civil engineering, and landscape architecture for large regional parks, with preferred qualifications including at least five years of experience in sports complex irrigation design and previous work on regional sports parks in Florida. The proposal is due by July 16, 2025, with the project to be awarded through a Consultant's Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) Specific Project Agreement.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The project will utilize a Construction Manager (CM) delivery method, requiring the selected consultant to coordinate with various county departments and potentially other associated organizations. The total project cost is estimated at approximately $40 million, with the City of Venice contributing $20 million in funding and Sarasota County funding the remaining portion. The City will disburse an initial $5 million payment within twelve months of the park's conveyance and anticipates collecting a minimum of $1 million annually in park impact fees from the Venice Park Facility Service District. The funding is contingent on construction beginning within ten fiscal years and substantial redevelopment completed within fifteen fiscal years after park conveyance. The park's proposed improvements include multiple recreational amenities such as baseball, softball, basketball, football, croquet, and soccer fields. The project timeline and funding agreement specify that the City's total financial obligation shall not exceed $20 million and is subject to annual budgetary discretion by the City Council.