The East Bradenton Park revitalization project seeks to transform a significant place in the African American community into a vibrant, inclusive, and multigenerational destination that honors its rich cultural heritage. Central to the design is a universal multi-generational splash pad, which pays homage to the former public pool where generations of children learned to swim during segregation. This splashpad will be fully ADA-accessible and sensory-friendly, featuring interactive water play elements. Shaded seating and safety surfacing will ensure comfort and accessibility for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Surrounding the splash pad is a modular container village composed of repurposed shipping containers inspired by the adjacent citrus plant and displaying the rich history with the citrus trains coming out of the neighborhood. Further the shipping containers reflect a subtle nod to the communities early 1800’s connections to the Underground Railroad as the freed slave settlement of Angola. The container village will provide affordable and sustainable spaces for shade, storage, offices and equipment and they will surround a multipurpose community building that serves as an indoor gathering space for events, job training, tutoring, wellness workshops, and neighborhood meetings.
Supporting community athletics and youth development, the project includes a state-of-the-art football field designed for the Manatee Broncos youth football program. This facility will feature regulation artificial turf, bleachers, restrooms, a concession area, a store for Broncos merchandise, a press box, coach’s areas, and LED sports lighting to enable evening games and community events. The field is envisioned as a multipurpose space that can host fitness programs and wellness events for the broader community.
Existing park amenities such as the food forest, ninja playground, walking trails, basketball court, and obstacle course will be retained and enhanced to support recreation and environmental education.
Guided by principles of heritage, equity, wellness, and opportunity, the East Bradenton Park redesign aims to create a space that not only preserves the stories of resilience and innovation—from the sanctuary of Agnola to the citrus industry legacy of Tropicana—but also fosters a sense of belonging and possibility for current and future generations.
