Ribbon Cutting for Bird Key Park Set for Monday

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2pm, Monday, Feb. 14, in Bird Key Park to commemorate the newly renovated area, which includes more green space, more public access and a new multi-use recreational trail, a city press release said. 

The $1.2 million park is located at the western base of the Ringling Bridge on the John Ringling Causeway.

 The City’s Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT), a ten-foot wide sidewalk for walkers, runners and bicyclists, now extends an additional 1,500 feet from the Ringling Bridge to the Coon Key Bridge.  That means you can travel from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to Bayfront Park and Bird Key Park via the MURT.  

The next phase, which begins in March, will connect Ben Franklin Drive to Lido Key Beach.  The MURT project began in 2005. 

Bird Key Park also now features Florida friendly landscaping, four water access points including a kayak launch, kayak wash rack, two covered picnic tables, enhanced lighting, environmentally friendly turf cell parking, a pet friendly water station and the ten-foot wide asphalt MURT. 

Prior to the improvements, a smaller 4-foot wide shell path existed and the park was not conducive to public access, a city press release said.