East Bradenton Park

“The East Bradenton Park revitalization project seeks to transform a historically significant community space into a vibrant, inclusive, and multigenerational destination that honors its rich cultural heritage. Central to the design is a Universal Multi-Generational Splashpad, which pays tribute to the former public pool where generations of African American children learned to swim during segregation. This splashpad will be fully ADA-accessible and sensory-friendly, featuring interactive water play elements inspired by the local citrus industry and natural Florida landscapes. Shaded seating and safety surfacing will ensure comfort and accessibility for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Supporting community athletics and youth development, the project includes a high-quality football field designed for the Manatee Broncos youth football program. This facility will feature regulation turf, bleachers, a press box, a coach’s area, and LED 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.
At the heart of the park’s innovation is a modular Container Village composed of repurposed shipping containers, which will provide affordable and sustainable spaces for small business stalls, food vendors, after-school classrooms, and creative studios. This flexible hub will foster economic development, education, and cultural programming, reflecting the park’s evolving urban-industrial identity.
The design also incorporates a multipurpose community building that serves as an indoor gathering space for events, job training, tutoring, wellness workshops, and neighborhood meetings. Equipped with restrooms, offices, and storage, this building will support year-round programming and can adapt to serve as a community resource during emergencies.
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. New features include picnic pavilions that offer covered, reservable spaces for gatherings and celebrations, additional parking designed to support increased visitation while preserving green space, and a retention pond with native landscaping that provides stormwater management and an outdoor classroom for ecological learning.
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.”