In the News
- City makes overture to keep Sarasota Orchestra Sarasota Observer · August 29, 2019
- Big Art: Sarasota cultural groups have grand plans for new buildings Sarasota Herald Tribune · August 25, 2019
- Commission vote on orchestra showed courage Sarasota Observer · June 12, 2019
- The Music of Democracy SRQ Daily · June 8, 2019
- Sarasota Fairgrounds open to a new Orchestra concert hall Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 29, 2019
- Orchestra plan ignored intent of park donors Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 29, 2019
- Payne descendant grateful for public support of park Sarasota Hearld Tribune · May 28, 2019
- Payne Park will not be new home for the Sarasota Orchestra, City Commission decides in 4-1 vote Sarasota News Leader · May 24, 2019
- City Commission rejects orchestra's Payne Park vision Sarasota Observer · May 21, 2019
- After Payne Park debate, Sarasota will look elsewhere for Orchestra concert hall Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 21, 2019
- Payne Park Preserved; Sarasota City Commissioners vote against Orchestra’s concert hall plan ABC News Channel 7 · May 21, 2019
- Sarasota Orchestra Will Not Be Moving To Payne Park WJCT · May 21, 2019
- Orchestra’s place in Payne Park on the agenda Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 20, 2019
- Public park wrong place for a new orchestra hall Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 17, 2019
- Public park wrong place for a new orchestra hall Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 17, 2019
- My View: Reject the Sarasota Orchestra’s land grab in Payne Park Sarasota Observer · May 17, 2019
- Opponents of Sarasota Orchestra relocation to Payne Park preparing to make their case to City Commission during May 20 meeting Sarasota News Leader · May 17, 2019
- Cardamone: Hall doesn’t belong at Payne ParkSarasota Herald Tribune · May 17, 2019
- City to decide if Orchestra will move to Payne ParkABC News Channel 7 · May 17, 2019
- Public park wrong place for a new orchestra hall Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 17, 2019
- City commissioner rejects orchestra's Payne Park Proposal Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 15, 2019
- Commissioner Brody's open letter about Payne Park May 15, 2019
- City should preserve park for all citizens’ enjoyment Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 15, 2019
- Don’t give away park land for Orchestra’s music hall Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 14, 2019
- Sarasota Audubon opposes orchestra hall in Payne Park Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 13, 2019
- Controversy over proposed new home for Sarasota Orchestra NBC News Channel 8 · May 13, 2019
- Use existing building for Sarasota Orchestra Sarasota Vision · May 10, 2019
- Orchestra continues pursuit of Payne Park site Sarasota Observer · May 9, 2019
- Time to take action to preserve Payne Park Sarasota Vision · May 9, 2019
- Park is wrong site for Orchestra center Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 9, 2019
- Sundstrom and Wernick: Keep ‘public’ in public park Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 6, 2019
- Don't pave over greenspace at park Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 3, 2019
- Don’t let musicians muscle in at park Sarasota Herald Tribune · May 1, 2019
- Converting green space to glass, cement, asphalt Sarasota Herald Tribune · March 22, 2019
- Orchestra’s Payne Park plan starts on tumultuous note Long Boat Key News · March 22, 2019
- Build orchestra home at Westfield Southgate Sarasota Herald Tribune · March 16, 2019
- Orchestra needs to rethink plan to develop Payne Park Long Boat Key News · March 9, 2019
- Orchestra's Payne Park proposal met with opposition Sarasota Observer · March 14, 2019
- Orchestra gets earful at Payne Park feedback session Sarasota Herald Tribune · March 12, 2019
Payne Park Saved!
Payne descendant grateful for public support of park
“I appreciate the efforts to bring the Sarasota Orchestra downtown and it is obvious that many people desire the same.
I believe that all Americans deserve access to areas of natural beauty such as Payne Park, especially at a time when there is an epic dissociation with nature.
Thoreau said, ‘I should be glad if all the meadows on earth were left in a wild state, if that were the consequence of men’s beginning to redeem themselves.’
As a great-great-granddaughter of Calvin Payne, I felt honored to represent the family at this time. I am grateful for the overwhelming support that was shown by the citizens of Sarasota and Sarasota County.
Looking toward the future, I hope that the government of Sarasota will come to cherish Payne Park as much as the citizens of Sarasota do.”
May 6, 2019 City Commission Meeting
“We don’t want or need a concrete, steel, and glass box covering 20% of the park, including a pond, desecrating the desperately needed green space in an otherwise urban environment.
The very least that we, as a community, can do is to respect the wishes of the Payne Family, who were gracious enough to donate their land to the city to be a FREE PUBLIC PARK, by keeping Payne Park FREE, GREEN, and PUBLIC! I’m pro orchestra and pro Payne Park but put the orchestra somewhere else!
We require green space for both physical and mental heath and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!”
