Saprito Pier reopens with new look and amenities April 30 | City of Sarasota

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

 

City of Sarasota, FL:  The Tony Saprito Fishing Pier will reopen to the public Friday, April 30 with a brief ceremony at 9 a.m.  All are welcome to attend the event, which will feature City leaders and the project team highlighting the improvements and new amenities, followed by a ribbon cutting and reopening the fishing pier.

 

The pier, located adjacent to the John Ringling Causeway Bridge, underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation with a new concrete top deck installed and concrete pilings, caps and light poles retrofitted. Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant railings also were installed plus six benches and three shade structures to provide relief from the intense Florida sun.

 

New pressure-treated composite planks are now incorporated into the deck at the foot of the pier where the surf from Sarasota Bay is strongest. To protect the structural integrity of the pier, the planks are designed to pop out during strong wave action and remain attached to the pier.

 

The makeover pays tribute to Sarasota Bay through creative sea life art designs placed along the railings, plus a visual reminder “Protect The Bay” imprinted at the end of the pier.

 

The City also partnered with Sarasota County to install a new Automated Rainfall Management System (ARMS) able to measure wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, temperature, and precipitation.

 

Construction started in November 2020 and concluded in April 2021. The rehabilitation project was funded through the voter approved penny surtax and is expected to further extend the pier’s longevity.

 

Saprito Pier opened in 1979 and remains a popular destination for fishing, walking and enjoying a beautiful sunset on the bay.