Sarasota, Fla. (pop. 52,211), situated on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico just south of Bradenton and north of Venice, has landscaped a stretch of U.S. 301, the "gateway" to Sarasota.

The city of Sarasota, Fla., has completed a significant landscape enhancement project along a stretch of U.S. 301 from Mound Street to Myrtle Street. A portion of Mound Street, north of the U.S. 301 split, also was landscaped.

The improvements included planting almost 200 new trees including 147 palms, plus 16,000 shrubs and groundcover, installing brick pavers along select medians and incorporating drip irrigation.

The city of Sarasota managed the project, headed by Neil Gaines, capital project coordinator in the public works department.

This being Florida, full grown palm varieties were the dominant additions: 56 Royal, 45 Triangle, 32 Dwarf Sugar, 32 Sabal, 29 Bismark, 14 Spindle (65 gal.) and 7 Montgomery palms. Nonpalm tree additions were 11 bald cypresses, 10 Silver Trumpets, 3 jacarandas and 3 gumbo limbos.

Shrubs for the medians included bromeliads (orange, Alcantarea and Odorata), agave, Mexican cycad, "Silver Saw' palmetto and orange bird of paradise.

The project contractor will provide one year of maintenance.

The cost of the project was $851,700. More than half of the funding was through Florida DOT; the remainder funded through the Sarasota County LOST (local option sales tax) program.

The Sarasota Team
dwja Landscape Architects, Sarasota, David W. Young, ASLA: Construction administration management

Landscape architect Phillip J. Smith, ASLA, Sarasota, certified arborist (tree risk assessment qualified)

Gem Paver Systems: interlocking 4x8-inch pavers

Netafim: Techline drip tubing

One Stop Pavers, Sunrise, Fla.: paver installation

Stahlman-England: Irrigation subcontractor

Superior Landscaping & Lawn Service: prime contractor