- May 12, 2025
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Sarasota County is breaking ground May 8 on what will be a yearlong construction project at Snook Haven Park in Venice. The $8.75 million undertaking will “preserve the park’s beloved ‘Old Florida’ charm while enhancing accessibility and overall visitor experience,” according to a statement from the county.
Snook Haven Restaurant, located within the park on East Venice Avenue, closed May 1 before the improvement project gets underway. Venice Pier Group, which operated the restaurant since 2013, encouraged its Facebook followers to visit its other locations, including Sharky's On the Pier, Fins at Sharky's, Siesta Beach Eats and The Nest at The Bay.
A new food service facility compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be constructed landward from the Myakka River as part of the project, and county officials say they will soon issue a solicitation for a concessionaire to provide food and beverage service, live entertainment and eco-tourism services at the site.
In addition to the dining facility, other updates at Snook Haven Park will include a large accessible pavilion with river views, a new bandshell, upgraded fishing amenities and improved walkways connecting key areas of the park, according to a statement from the county.
Sarasota County has owned the 2.62-acre park property since 2006, which it says has been developed since the 1930s and has “long served as a unique hub for outdoor recreation.”
Construction at Snook Haven Park will begin soon after the May 8 groundbreaking ceremony, and the project is expected to be complete by mid-2026. Jon F. Swift Construction is the general contractor, according to a spokesperson for the county.
