Historic Building Rehabilitation Begins at Warm Mineral Springs Park

Historic Building Rehabilitation Begins at Warm Mineral Springs Park

Published on July 27, 2026

City leaders, community members and project partners gathered Monday morning for the "Hats on for Progress" ceremony, marking the start of construction on the Warm Mineral Springs Park Building Rehabilitation Project.

The ceremony celebrated an important milestone in preserving the park's historic character while advancing its master plan and improving the visitor experience. Warm Mineral Springs Park, which welcomes more than 150,000 visitors each year, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of North Port's most recognizable destinations.

"Today is a historic day for Warm Mineral Springs Park and everyone who worked tirelessly to reach this milestone," Parks & Recreation Director Sandy Pfundheller said. "We are excited to kick off construction after years of planning, collaboration and community input. This first phase reflects our commitment to preserving this treasured destination and enhancing our community's quality of life for generations to come."

The approximately $16.7 million project includes improvements to the park's three historic buildings:

• The Admission Building will be historically rehabilitated and floodproofed, with space for admissions, staff operations, public restrooms and meetings.
• The Spa Building will receive a hybrid rehabilitation, creating an open-air pavilion and shaded gathering space while preserving its distinctive Jack West exterior and historic design. The building will also include family-style restrooms and exterior open-air showers.
• The Cyclorama will receive roof repairs, floodproofing and stabilization. It will be carefully mothballed in accordance with historic preservation guidelines until funding becomes available for a future restoration.

The project also includes parking improvements, utility upgrades and landscaping designed to improve safety, infrastructure, park operations and the overall visitor experience.

"Warm Mineral Springs Park is a nationally recognized historic site, a natural resource and an economic asset," City Manager Jerome Fletcher said. "This project represents an investment in the responsible stewardship of that asset while preserving an important part of North Port's history."

The City Commission authorized an additional $4.08 million for the project in July, supplementing the $12.6 million previously allocated. Funding comes from the Warm Mineral Springs Fund, Environmental Protection Fund, Utilities Revenue Fund, Park Impact Fees and Surtax.

The City recognized Wharton-Smith, the ceremony sponsor and construction manager, along with project partners Kimley-Horn and Associates, Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors and the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation.

Construction is anticipated to take place over the next 16 months, with a grand opening potentially planned for late 2027. Updates about the project will be available at NorthPortFL.gov/WMSPMasterPlan.

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