SARASOTA, Fla. — A popular park in Sarasota is receiving $1 million to improve its shoreline after it received significant damage from Hurricane Milton.

It’s part of The Bay Park Sarasota’s multi-million dollar project to build up its shoreline, walkways and water quality for Sarasota Bay.

The day after Thanksgiving is quiet on Sarasota Bay.

“It’s nice,” said Chanel Ruiz, who was visiting the park while in town from New York. “Pretty chill. It’s more like a family vibe, you know?”

Even with that relaxing atmosphere, officials are still looking to make improvements, especially after Hurricane Milton made landfall across the bay in Siesta Key.

“I saw some fences that were broken down but this area,” Ruiz said, “I didn’t see any damages, so that’s good.”

That’s because, according to officials with The Bay Park Conservancy, this park was built with storm resiliency in mind.

It reopened not long after Milton made landfall.

The northern part of The Bay Park’s 53 acres is a different story — but even that comes with a happy ending.

The Barancik Foundation in Sarasota is donating $1 million to the park to help with improving its shoreline and water quality.

After this part of the bay suffered damage from Milton, over the next couple years it will be rebuilt to better withstand mother nature while ultimately helping treat stormwater that goes back into the bay.

“I feel like it’s a good thing because, you know, also for the (ocean) life, too, you know? You kind of think about them, too,” Ruiz said.

Officials say The Bay Park suffered $500,000 to $1 million in damage from Milton, but with the Barancik Foundation's donation and money and support from around town, they expect to see an already beautiful park look even better.

The second phase of this project for The Bay Park is expected to be completed sometime in 2026.