Lido Beach has always been the wide-open, flat stretch of sand that makes for easy walks and endless views. This fall, that changes, in a good way. Starting September 21, the City of Sarasota begins its first-ever dune renourishment project on Lido, running from North Lido Park south to Ted Sperling Park.
The new dunes will be about 2.5 feet high and 30 feet wide with a gradual taper, and dedicated walkways mean you’ll still get to the water without a detour. Once the sand is shaped, crews will plant natives like dune sunflower, railroad vine, and sea oats. Those plants stabilize the dunes, create habitat for sea turtles and shorebirds, and give the shoreline extra protection when storm surge rolls in during hurricane season. The project should take about 60 days.
So what will you actually notice? A softer, greener shoreline by late fall, and a beach that handles storms a little better than it did before. If you’re a regular at North Lido or Ted Sperling, we want to hear from you. What’s your reaction to Lido finally getting dunes?
