Lido Pool Renovation Plan Revealed

If a plan to renovate the Lido Beach Pool and Pavilion is approved, the pool could soon add a tiki bar, meeting and performance space, splash pads and a playground.

Lido Beach Pool Committee Chairman Carl Shoffstall presented Sarasota City Commission Tuesday with a proposed plan that could see those features and more.

The ad-hoc committee is charged with reviewing and recommending viable ways to keep the pool open to the public. The Lido Beach Pool became the city's after  turned it over, saying the facility was losing $180,000 per year, but those numbers didn't include pavilion concession income.

Shofstall presented a combination of marketing plans, financial calculation adjustments to include the pool and pavilion as one operation, increased retail and merchandise, cabana rentals and more to make money.

"We want to at least bring this to a break-even deal," Shoffstall told the commission.

Here's what the construction timeline would look like for the plan pictured at the top of this story:

• 2012: Restroom Renovation, Tiki Bar

• 2013: Meeting Room and Catering Kitchen Upgrades

• 2014: Rental Pavilion, Small Stage Construction, Removal and Redesign of Roof at the Outdoor Plaza, Outdoor Plaza Hardscape Renovation (coral rock or more natural product/finish), Pool Area Improvements (Enlargement of Pool Building) and Splash Pad Area Plaza

• 2015: Meeting Room Garden Plazas Construction, Roundabout Construction and Parking Lot Reconfiguration

• 2016: Roof Enhancement (Standing Seam), Exterior Building Enhancements (Seal Stucco and Repaint-Modern Color Palette), Signage and Planting / Irrigation

Furnishings, playground and splash pad equipments are not included in the phasing and would be provided by the city, grants, donors or the concession operator, Shoffstall said.

City staff will come back with a plan and budget for the proposal, Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown said. There are monies for design and improvements in 2014, 2015 and construction in 2016 available, and there might be a chance to make some immediate improvements with current funds.

No cost was given for the plan, but the pool and pavilion are currently appraised for $424,000, and Shoffstall previously told Patch that about $200,000 is the maximum that could be spent on the facility.