A Green space is defined as “community space consisting of land (such as parks) rather than buildings.” It is also referred to as an open space reserve, protected areas of undeveloped landscape and the natural environment. Are you aware that parks, recreation and natural areas have always been integral to the City of Venice’s image and appeal? The layout and design of the City by John Nolen in the early 1920’s included a balance between two primary ideals – “the promotion of civic virtue through the harmonizing effect of urban planning and the humanizing influence of the beauty of nature.”
This balance was made possible in part by allowing nature and beauty to infiltrate into the City from surrounding natural areas through an interconnected park system comprised of streets, linear parks, greenways, parks and open spaces designed to meet the every-day social and recreational needs of residents. It was based on the idea of providing for 1920’s modern, everyday life conveniences integrated with City Garden Era idealistic design principles. A student of the City Beautiful Movement of the early 1900’s, Mr. Nolen believed that creating a beautiful, well designed public realm was integral to creating a high quality of life and higher level of civilization.
The General Plan was designed for gradual implementation. It included a strong street and urban design framework, public facilities, commercial uses, industrial uses, open spaces and parks and a variety of opportunities for housing. Architecture was intended to be designed in the “Northern Italian” or “Mediterranean Revival” architectural style.
The streets, open spaces and parks proposed by Nolen were an integral and defining element of the General Plan. Streets were conceived as linear parks with planted medians fronting homes and extending “nature” into the center of the City. Homes were designed to be no more than a block or two from a large park that provided common green space and playgrounds. Certain parks were planned to provide field type activities, specifically Venezia and John Nolen Park, while other parks protected and provided communal access to natural features. Integrated into this web of greenspaces were public facilities.
The City of Venice remains one of the most complete examples in the United States of a City Garden Era city plan.
Fast forward to today, the City of Venice has over 30 parks for the public to enjoy.
Here are some that may have an interest to you:
Tennis Courts &
Basketball Courts
Hecksher Park
Pinebrook Park
Boat Ramp
Higel Marine Park
Marina Park
Canoe & Kayak
Launch
Higel Marine Park
Legacy Park
Venice Myakka River Park
Walking Trails
East Blalock Park
Heritage Park
John Nolen Park
Legacy Park
Pinebrook Park Exercise Trail
Prentiss French Park
Venetian Waterway Park
Venice Myakka River Park
West Blalock Park
Biking Trails
Legacy Park
Venetian Waterway Park
Venice Myakka River Park
Dog Friendly
East Blalock Park
Centennial Park
Heritage Park
John Nolen Park
Legacy Park
Patriots Park
Paw Park at Brohard Park Beach
Prentiss French Park
Ruscelletto Park
Venetian Waterway Park
Venice Myakka River Park
West Blalock Park
Here’s a list of all the parks in the City of Venice:
- Hecksher Park 2. Marina Park 3. East Blalock Park 4. Venezia Park 5. Prentiss French Park 6. John Nolen Park 7. Venice Beach 8. Centennial Park 9. Mundy Park 10. Higel Marine Park 11. Chuck Reiter Park 12. Brohard Park 13. East Gate Park 14. Wellfield Park 15. Heritage Park 16. Dr. Fred Albee Park 17. Fountain Park 18. Humphris Park (South Jetty) 19. Ponce De Leon Park 20. Service Club Park 21. Patriots Park 22. Chauncy Howard Park 23. Venetian Waterway Park 24. South Brohard Beach Paw Park 25. South Brohard Beach Park 26. Sawgrass Park 27. Venice Myakka River Park 28. Michael Biehl Park 29. City Hall Park 30. Graser Park 31. Maxine Barritt Park 32. Venice Fishing Pier 33. Ruscelletto Park 34. Pinebrook Park 35. West Blalock Park and Arboretum 36. Legacy Trail 37. Curry Creek Preserve – Sarasota County 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 Neighborhood Pocket Parks
Whether you are thinking about moving to the City of Venice, live here seasonally or enjoy our beautiful city year round, please know that these incredible green spaces are available for all of us to enjoy in this gorgeous Florida weather! I believe John Nolen would be happy & proud to call the City of Venice his home today.
*a majority of this information was taken from the City of Venice Parks Master Plan