Blackburn Point Park grand opening celebration set for April 29

​SARASOTA COUNTY – The community is invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Blackburn Point Park additions on April 29, to celebrate the improvement and expansion of the park's amenities.

Blackburn Point Park has a long and rich history of serving the community, from the Native Americans who used its shore to secure food and resources, to the fishing industry that thrived there in the early 1900's, to the people who flock to the park each year to enjoy all of the wonderful modern recreational opportunities.

The new park additions will only enhance what has historically been a valuable piece of Sarasota County's past. And now, with the unveiling of all the exciting new additions, Blackburn Point Park is poised to continue that tradition for future generations.

Blackburn Point Park also plays a critical part in Sarasota County's county-wide rowing program, allowing for visiting rowing teams from around the globe to train on-site and experience Sarasota County's beautiful waterways. Teams are expected to utilize the facility while practicing for the 2017 World Rowing Championships, which will be held at Nathan Benderson Park.

New features at Blackburn Point Park include:

• Rowing dock, rowing ramp, motorized boat ramp, and docks
• Two restrooms
• Parking for 56 boat trailers
• A boardwalk with pavilion over the water
• Fishing pier and covered picnic shelter areas
• Improved fenced boat storage and staging/wash area for visiting rowing teams
• Trails meandering throughout the park
• Maintenance barn area
• Low impact development stormwater treatment system with pervious paving and bio-swales
• Native landscaping

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new additions at Blackburn Point Park, located at 800 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey, 34229, is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 29.

For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000.