Urfer Family Park and Wilson House

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Urfer Family Park provides a unique combination of recreational and learning opportunities.

The park offers playgrounds for toddlers through teens; a fitness trail; and a 1-mile nature trail, winding through pine flatwoods, and adjacent to herbaceous and forested wetlands. A boardwalk also overlooks wetland areas.

The Urfer Family Park picnic pavilion and grounds are perfect for family reunions, corporate outings or organized events. For more information about availability and rates contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or visit Parks Online.
​One of the more unique characteristics of Urfer Family Park is the rehabilitated Dr. C. B. Wilson House, a historic structure constructed circa 1906.

The first floor is open to the public for self guided tours on a limited basis each week.
Summer hours
May 1 to October 31, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Winter hours
November 1 to April 30, Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m.
The house is closed on holiday weekends and may be closed other days.
Take the self guided tour through the first floor to learn about the historic Dr. C.B. Wilson House and other fascinating historical aspects of Sarasota County.

As Sarasota County’s first Gold LEED certified park, Urfer Family Park represents a new milestone in sustainability. Water conservation will be achieved by a two-prong approach of reduction.
First, the goal is to reduce irrigation demand by the careful selection of native and drought tolerant plant materials, along with low-flow irrigation devices.
The design and construction selected native landscape materials that are compatible with the smaller eco-systems on the project site, enhancing the project goals to conserve the original wildlife sanctuaries and natural environment of the park.
The reduction in irrigation demand due to these strategies is expected to exceed 50 percent
Second, the approach to water conservation is through the use of very low-flow plumbing devices, such as dual flush water closets and low flow shower heads.
The expected reduction in water use through these devices is 30 percent.

This site has been recognized for its Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program recognizes the use of environmentally friendly garden gardening and landscaping practices. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ minimizes the use of potable water for irrigation, avoids the runoff of excess fertilizers and pesticides from the landscape and provides habitats for wildlife. They can take any form, from more conventional and manicured to more natural. It’s how you maintain your yard that ultimately determines if it’s Florida-friendly. Landscapes are evaluated based on a checklist of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices. For more information on Florida-Friendly Yard recognition, contact UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.

Visit Green Sarasota
updated 06/2016 by SCGM Transition Team Member