Wellen Park pulled out all the stops at its recent groundbreaking ceremony for Downtown Wellen, putting on a stylish, elegant and exciting event as thoughtful and creative as the community itself has turned out to be. When completed, Downtown Wellen will be the central hub and gathering place for Wellen Park, featuring the 80-acre Grand Lake, retail shops, waterfront dining, walkable streets, and public spaces for residents and visitors alike. The groundbreaking featured speeches by Wellen Park President Rick Severance, Vice President of Marketing Christine Masney, and others involved in this major development that is completely transforming the south Sarasota County and North Port area. After all, Wellen Park is the 5th fastest growing master-planned community in the country.
Attendees were treated to flower bouquet making from a mobile floral vendor, specialty drinks from a retrofitted vintage horse trailer-turned modern boutique bar, and an interactive station where guests painted pavers that will be used as part of a colorful walkway in the downtown area. All the activities previewed the lifestyle cultivated by Wellen Park. Make sure to take a look at the creatively painted ceremonial groundbreaking shovels on page [TK] of this issue of Venice Lifestyle.
“Our vision was to design and build a great sense of place through Wellen Park’s architecture, public spaces, programming, and events,” says Rick of the community. “There hasn’t been a hub of activity like this in the region historically. We were committed to doing something new locally, while being smart about the growth. The intention is added value for everyone in the region. We made a commitment to high quality retail, as evidenced by our Publix-anchored shopping center, as well as our new offerings slated for downtown. The planned spaces for public and private events, the wellness track around the lake, and connections for dining and entertainment are just a few elements of downtown that have never been here previously.”
Rick’s remarkable career has had many accomplishments of note, including his past tenure as CEO of Seaside, which was named TIME Magazine’s Development of the Decade and won the Urban Land Institute’s highest honor, the Award of Excellence. The beauty of Wellen Park is the culmination of what Rick and his team have learned through the years.
“Every single project has been different,” Rick explains. “And I have learned from each of them what to do, and especially, what not to do. From a scale perspective, Wellen Park is much larger than Seaside. But the hallmarks of Seaside in terms of creating a great place, a hub of activity and vibrancy, and an area where people can make memories are the same. We brought these commitments to Wellen Park and to all of the residents of this region who will benefit from Downtown Wellen.”
As part of the groundbreaking, Wellen Park announced a new series of curated events to start this fall that will preview what’s to come with Downtown Wellen. Featuring a range of makers, craft artisans, fitness and wellness experts, and culinary talent, the ‘Countdown to Downtown’ event series will take place in and around the Wellen Park Welcome Center, which offers a front-row view of the construction progress in Downtown Wellen, expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2022.
“It will be the heart and soul of Wellen Park,” says Severance. “There are just a lot of really thoughtful elements that will be interesting, fun and definitely worthy of posting on social media.”
In addition to shops and restaurants, Downtown Wellen will include a permanent food truck park, a Great Lawn for community celebrations or just enjoying the sunshine, and a Town Hall that will host concerts and events. Nature-inspired features like a hammock grove and a lounge area underneath a nearly 100-year-old heritage oak tree will connect visitors with the outdoors and offer spots for rest and relaxation.
A unique natural playground, designed to look like part of the surrounding landscape, will provide an imaginative spot for young residents and visitors to play.
A 2.8-mile trail will traverse the centerpiece lake and create opportunities for biking, walking and running. The future lakefront will also feature kayak and paddleboard rentals from a floating dock.
Wellen Park has three districts: West Villages, Downtown Wellen, and Playmore. The full build out will eventually have 60,000 residents and 22,000 homes.
“The growth has been phenomenal over the last two years,” Rick says. “We now have everything from luxury apartments, rental cottages and senior living, to new home builders and age-restricted condominiums. When I think of what we have accomplished here, I don’t ever look at it as something personal. It will be our collection legacy. I simply couldn’t do it without the outstanding team of people around me.”
For more information about living at Wellen Park, call 941.229.7124, go to Wellenpark.com, or visit the Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice. The Welcome Center is open Monday-Saturday, 10 AM-5:30 PM and Sunday, 12 PM-5 PM.
Wellen Park
Fact One
Wellen Park—encompassing 11,000 acres—3,340 undeveloped acres remain within the City of North Port and approximately 2,800 within unincorporated Sarasota County—has been named the #5 top-selling master-planned community in the US for 2021 by prominent real estate consulting firm RCLCO Real Estate Advisors.
Fact Two
Across its three districts—West Villages, Downtown Wellen, and Playmore—the community currently has approximately 9,000 residents, and at full build-out will have more than 60,000 residents and 22,000 homes.
Fact Three
The community’s brand and vision are rooted in wellness. Wellen Park’s wellness focus is holistic and practical, designed to give residents greater opportunities to connect with one another, take care of themselves and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, all within an inclusive, genuine community vibe.