NORTH PORT – The cost to enjoy the water at Warm Mineral Springs will change Oct. 1, after the North Port City Commission adopted the first new rate structure since it assumed full ownership of the park in 2014.
The daily rate for city residents remains constant at $15, with discounts available for 10- and 30-visit passes but Sarasota County residents would pay $18 per visit and more than city residents for 10- and 30-visit passes.
Out-of-county adults will pay $20 per visit.
The changes mean that residents of the adjacent community of Warm Mineral Springs – many of whom moved to the area specifically to use the springs – will pay more than city residents. North Port wants to increase revenue to pay for improvements at the park, including installation of city water and sewer service and the restoration or renovation of three historic buildings built years ago for the Quadracentennial.
“The way it is now it just isn’t right but all of this does cost money,” said City Commissioner David Duval. “Warm Mineral Springs is supported by all of the taxpayers of North Port and some of those taxpayers do not use the facilities.
“There has to be a balance,” he later added.
Why is Warm Mineral Springs special?
The hourglass-shaped sinkhole once thought to be the Fountain of Youth when it was discovered by explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, Warm Mineral Springs is primarily fed by an underground stream that pumps in 20 million gallons of 86-degree water per day.
It is also an underwater burial site for prehistoric indigenous people.
It became a public park after Sarasota County and North Port teamed up to buy it out of bankruptcy for $5.5 million in 2010.
North Port annexed the 83-acre park in the early 2000s, when Gold Springs LLC hoped to build a resort community with retail stores and restaurants.
That plan died during the Great Recession. The city and county could never agree on a plan for the park and they parted ways in 2014, when the city purchased the county’s interests for $2.75 million. It contracted with National and State Park Concessions to operate it and received a net profit of about $300,000 annually.
Despite COVID-19, attendance boomed in 2021 and 2022, with 136,626 people using the springs in 2021, when the city pocketed $874,200 in net profit; and 152,806 people in 2022, when it received more than $1 million.
On July 22 Commissioner Barbara Langdon said the city had been doing a disservice to call those years profitable because maintenance costs of the property and three historic buildings were not included.
“It’s a very expensive asset to a small group,” she added.
For the most recent complete fiscal year, 2023-24, a total of 127,213 people used the springs, or roughly 350 people per day.
The annual revenue – including investment income – was $1.5 million vs. an annual expense of $1.3 million, or $3,485 per day.
Hurricane Ian closed the park in September 2022, as the city was eyeing a public-private partnership to restore three historic structures believed to be designed by Jack West, a member of the Sarasota School of Architecture, and develop the 61.4 acres that surround the 21.6-acre springs site.
Warm Mineral Spring Development Group, Inc. ended the partnership in 2024. Currently the city plans to renovate or restore the three historic buildings and is working with Big Waters Land Trust on establishing a conservation easement for 45.3-acres of the 61.4 acres.
Park patrons oppose rate change
During public comment, residents voiced concerns about the increased cost, as well as the lack of facilities since Hurricane Ian closed the park and rendered the sales and spa building unusable.
Sarasota County resident Olga Goncharuk pointed out the lack of changing rooms since Hurricane Ian, called the portable restrooms disgusting and added that the current facilities are problematic for people with walkers.
Sergey Savenok said that while he understood inflationary forces – such as increased pay for lifeguards since North Port took over the springs – he suggested the city should do more advertising to boost visits.
Other speakers suggested implementing a senior citizen discount and a discount for veterans.
What is the proposed fee structure?
Under the new rates, adults in the city can pay $15 per visit or receive a 25% discount with a 10-visit pass or 50% discount with a 30-visit pass.
Those discounts would be reduced in subsequent years – to 20% and 40% for the 2026-27 fiscal year and 15% and 30% the following year.
Students would pay $11.25, with children up to age 5 admitted free.
Sarasota County residents – even those who live a few steps from the 83-acre park – will pay $18 per visit and receive those same volume discounts for 10- and 30-visit passes. Students would pay $13 per day.
More information is at NorthPortFL.gov/WMSP.
The fees for Sarasota County residents who live outside the city were reduced from an initial proposal for $20 per adult and $15 per student.
An annual program pass was dropped because no one wanted to buy it.
The commission approved the new fee schedule on a 3-2 vote, with Duval and Commissioner Demetrius Petrow in dissent.
Petrow wanted to see the city adopt the senior citizen and veterans discounts.
The board later voted 4-1, with Langdon in dissent, to explore those discounts.
The rate structure came up several times during the commission’s July 23 budget workshop.
With the city still at least $5 million short in funding needed to restore the historic buildings, and a potential need to maintain the park preserve, North Port Mayor Phil Stokes, said springs patrons are going to have to pay their share of the bill, noting that the park needs to be cleaned up. “The people who use it are the people who need to pay for it,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Warm Mineral Springs rates will go up Oct. 1 for Sarasota County residents
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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