$16.7M building rehab project begins at Warm Mineral Springs Park

Construction has officially begun at North Port’s Warm Mineral Springs Park, where three historic buildings will be improved. Community members, city officials and project personnel marked the July 27 milestone with a ceremony at the site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to celebrate an initiative that has been years in the making.

“Warm Mineral Springs Park is a nationally recognized historic site, a natural resource and an economic asset,” City Manager Jerome Fletcher says in a statement.

The only natural warm spring in Florida, with an average year-round temperature of 85 degrees, Warm Mineral Springs Park attracts about 150,000 visitors annually. Some of its buildings — including the spa and a circular structure known as the Cyclorama — were constructed in 1959, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

“This project represents an investment in the responsible stewardship of that asset while preserving an important part of North Port’s history,” Fletcher says.

Included in the rehabilitation project will be the spa, Cyclorama and admission buildings. Here are the plans for each structure, according to the city of North Port:

• The spa building will undergo a hybrid rehabilitation that creates an open-air pavilion and shaded gathering space in addition to family-style restrooms and exterior open-air showers. Throughout the process, the historic design and exterior designed by architect Jack West will be preserved.
• The Cyclorama improvements will include roof repairs, floodproofing and stabilization. In accordance with historic preservation guidelines, the site will be “mothballed,” which includes securing the building to control long-term deterioration, until funding becomes available for future restoration. 
• The admission building will be floodproofed and historically rehabilitated, with space for admissions, staff operations, public restrooms and meetings.

Also included in the rehabilitation project will be parking improvements, utility upgrades and landscaping designed to improve safety, park operations, infrastructure and overall visitor experience, according to a statement.

The city of North Port has owned the park property at 2200 San Servando Ave. N. since 2014, according to Sarasota County property records. It adopted a master plan for the site in 2019.

“We are excited to kick off construction after years of planning, collaboration and community input,” North Port Parks & Recreation Director Sandy Pfundheller says in a statement. “This first phase reflects our commitment to preserving this treasured destination and enhancing our community’s quality of life for generations to come.”

Earlier this month, the North Port City Commission authorized an additional $4.08 million for the rehabilitation project to supplement $12.6 million it had previously allocated. Funding comes from the Warm Mineral Springs Fund, Environmental Protection Fund, Utilities Revenue Fund, Park Impact Fees and Surtax, according to a statement.

Wharton-Smith is the construction manager, while additional project partners include Kimley-Horn, Sweet Sparkman Architects and the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation.

The projected construction timeline is 16 months, with a grand opening potentially planned for late 2027.