Washington Park Community Center Approved as Next Phase of Palmetto Revitalization

Manatee County has cleared the way for a $4.8 million community center at Washington Park in Palmetto, marking the next step in a decades-long effort to transform the site into a public destination.

Located at 3011 Eighth Ave. E., the 88-acre park has been under construction since 2021. The project is converting land once known as the “borrow pit” into trails, pavilions, play fields, and restored wetlands. County commissioners unanimously approved the community center’s budget on Tuesday, with construction expected to begin this month and completion planned for winter 2026.

Work on the first phase of the park is already about 60% complete. Trails, restrooms, and pavilions are slated to open by spring 2026 at $2.9 million.

The project has overcome obstacles, including the veto of a $1 million state appropriation earlier this year. To offset the loss, commissioners approved transferring nearly $2.2 million from the East Bradenton Park project to keep the community center on schedule.

Washington Park holds deep meaning for the neighborhood it serves. The historically Black community dates back to the 1920s and was later divided by the construction of U.S. 41. Residents and local leaders have pushed for redevelopment of the land for nearly half a century, with plans formally coming together in 2017 under a three-phase vision.

A partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helped prepare the site by filling low-lying areas with dredge material from Port Manatee, providing an estimated $15 million in value. More recently, soil from another county project was repurposed to stabilize the site and reduce costs.

Once complete, Washington Park will feature a mix of passive and active recreation areas, upland trails, and community gathering spaces. The park is expected to partially open in spring 2026, with the community center following later that year.