We urge the city of Sarasota Commissioners to reject the request from “The Stage”, a subsidiary of ”The Players”, to erect their theater in Payne Park AND to reject any other reductions of Payne Park’s green space.

“The Stage” would build a theater that is three times larger than the current auditorium’s footprint and pave over what is currently green space with roughly 60 parking spaces plus an access road, drop off circle, and service road that would abut the current shaded red gravel walking path eliminating the lawn to the west of it destroying the essence of the park, which is to provide green space in what is otherwise an urban area.

Please respect the wishes of the citizens who signed this petition, which align with the Payne family’s stipulation clearly expressed in their deed, reading as follows:

'This deed is given subject to the restriction that the tract hereinbefore described shall be used for park, playground and kindred uses and for no other use or purpose'

- C.N.Payne and Martha E. Payne

A building that charges a fee for entry with limited use for only a fraction of the community clearly conflicts with, “a park, playground and kindred uses” and also is not “public” in any sense of the word.  A park is intrinsically public and available to ALL of the community.

This petition is in no way an objection to The Stage itself, only an objection to it’s placement within Payne Park.

We implore you to reject The Stage’s Payne Park proposal.

Note:  all contributions made on this web site go to change.org and not to the petition leaders.