Benderson boathouse cast as storm shelter in $10 million state appropriation

Florida lawmakers are poised to steer $10 million toward a long-discussed boathouse project at Nathan Benderson Park after recently submitted appropriations requests pitched the facility as a regional storm shelter and emergency recovery hub. 

 The requests, which were first reported by Florida Politics, were sponsored by state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, and state Rep. James Buchanan, R-Osprey. Each lawmaker submitted a slightly different version of the same request, which said recent hurricanes exposed gaps in the region’s storm response infrastructure and highlighted the need for “critical hardened infrastructure support space” during storm preparation and recovery efforts.

The requests describe the project as a public-private partnership that would include a 100,000-square-foot indoor sports complex with basketball, pickleball, tennis and volleyball courts, museum space and event facilities.

Though the project has long been discussed publicly as a boathouse expansion, the word “boathouse” does not appear anywhere in either legislative request.

The appropriation requests not only frame the project as emergency infrastructure but also raise new questions about its actual scope and cost. They list the facility’s total cost as $45 million — far below the roughly $70 million estimates previously discussed by Sarasota County and Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy, which oversees the park.

The requests list the proposed funding sources as $20 million from Sarasota County, $10 million from the state appropriation and another $15 million from unspecified “other” sources.

A breakdown of funding sources included in the appropriations request submitted by state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota. | Suncoast Searchlight illustration based on the actual request

They do not explain why the estimated cost differs so dramatically from figures previously discussed publicly by county officials and the conservancy.

The discrepancy comes as county officials and park leaders continue trying to piece together funding for the massive project, which could cost tens of millions of dollars more than the county and conservancy have publicly committed even as officials prepare to select a contractor as early as next month. 

Based on the roughly $70 million figure, the project still faced an estimated funding gap of about $36 million before the proposed state appropriation. The additional $10 million would significantly reduce that shortfall.

Legislative records list Bruce Patneaude, chief operating officer for the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy, as the official requestor for the funding, indicating the nonprofit managing the county-owned park played a direct role in seeking the state appropriation. The requests seek funding through the Florida Division of Emergency Management rather than a sports or tourism program.

Sarasota County, however, said the request was not part of the County Commission’s legislative priorities.

“This item was not part of the Sarasota County Commission’s legislative priorities or a legislative appropriations request,” the county said in a statement.

Calls to the offices of Gruters and Buchanan were not returned, nor was a call to the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy, which manages the park.

Both versions of the requests list lobbyist David E. Ramba as working to secure the funding. Ramba represents numerous local governments and private clients in Tallahassee.

The requests also do not clearly explain whether the emergency-management functions would be incorporated into the planned sports complex or housed in a separate structure.

A similar funding request was filed last year by state Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton.

Terry Galvin, a park volunteer and rowing enthusiast who has opposed the project, questioned whether the location makes sense as an emergency shelter.

He said the proposed building site sits on an island with limited parking, is accessed by two small bridges and has experienced flooding during storms.

Terry Galvin is a regular volunteer at Nathan Benderson Park and an avid rowing fan. He is concerned that a new recreation building will have a negative impact. | Photo by John Dunbar, Suncoast Searchlight

In a text message to Suncoast Searchlight, Galvin called the emergency-management justification “such crap!”

Nathan Benderson Park has become an internationally known rowing venue that hosts major state, national and international competitions.

Late Sunday, the Florida Legislature agreed to a $115 billion fiscal year 2026-2027 budget, which would go into effect July 1. The final vote on the budget will occur this week. Even if it is approved, there is a chance the project could be vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The project has faced pushback from some local residents and park supporters, who argue it is too large for the site and relies too heavily on taxpayer funding for what they view as a public-private partnership.

The debate echoes controversies surrounding earlier improvements to the park, when county leaders approved millions in public funding alongside expectations that private donors would line up to finance future phases of development — including a boathouse that was never built.

John Dunbar is a watchdog/investigative reporter for Suncoast Searchlight. Email him at john@suncoastsearchlight.org.