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SARASOTA – The Sarasota Orchestra is proposing to city council to build a new state of the art facility in the middle of Payne Park.

The proposed plan looks to relocate the tennis court and add 200 more parking spaces. Nearly seven acres of the park land are part of the plan for the 2,500 seat hall.

Sami Scott with Preserve Payne Park is in favor of choosing another site for the orchestra hall that won’t interfere with the wild life and serenity of Payne Park. “We find that it is our responsibility in this generation to make sure no city official or commission forgets what that legacy is and what that gift really, really represents for our children and the next generation,” said Scott.

A petition against the proposal can be found online at preservepaynepark.com.  A city commission meeting on the orchestra’s proposal is set for Monday May 20th at 6 p.m. at city hall.