Amenities:

• 40 acres of land at this beach
• 2,400 linear feet of gulf beach frontage
• Available for rental: two group size picnic shelters
• 13 beach accesses along Beach Road with limited parking
• 20 station fitness trail
• 800 space parking lot
• Ball field
• Beach wheelchairs
• Concessions
• Grills
• Lifeguards are on duty year round
• Pavilion
• Playground equipment
• Rest rooms
• Safety building which includes an information area
• Eight small size picnic shelters
• Soccer field
• Four lighted tennis courts
• Tree shaded picnicking
• 10 volleyball courts

• Kids' Summer Fun Run Series
• Sand Sculpturing Contest
• Sandy Claws Arts and Crafts Festival
• Sandy Claws Beach Run
• “Say I Do Again"

Following two years of public input from stakeholders, residents, business owners and others, the Sarasota County Commission approved the Siesta Beach Concept Plan. Several goals and objectives were outlined by the community and staff throughout the park planning process for Siesta Beach. These were to enhance landscaping to improve the overall appearance of our world class beach, improve the appearance of and provide additional parking areas, provide for safe pedestrian connections/access, utilize Low Impact Design (LID) and sustainable design techniques and better utilization of space for improved access and use of recreational amenities. The County will be contracting with a design firm in late 2009 to initiate design, engineering and permitting for the Siesta Beach improvements.

History:

• The award winning sand at Siesta Beach is 99 percent pure quartz and its soft, floury texture is due to the very fine grain size.
• Geographically, it is probable that the Siesta sand first came down the rivers and flowed into the northern gulf millions of years ago, then moved slowly down the coast to its present location.
• It was recognized at the "Great International White Sand Beach Challenge" in 1987 for having the "whitest and finest sand in the world."
• Siesta Beach originally contained 9 acres and approximately 1200 feet of Gulf frontage.
• In the early 1970's, the County purchased the 30 acres to the south; thus producing the 40 acre beach and 2375 feet of Gulf frontage that is so heavily used today.
• The Safety Building Facility was completed in 1992. The building was designed to serve as the base of operations for the permanent lifeguards at the beach as well as the Sheriff's Park Patrol.