By Linda Reynolds, Broker, Reynolds Realty Gulf Coast (License #BK3021695) · Updated November 2026
Quick answer: Joan M. Durante Community Park is a free, roughly 32-acre Town of Longboat Key park at 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228, on Sarasota Bay about two miles from the north end of the island. It has a 1.4-mile walking trail with boardwalks through mangroves, bay overlooks, a gazebo pavilion, picnic tables, a playground and restrooms. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and leashed dogs are welcome.
If you need to take a break and catch your breath, this is the place to come. Durante Park is tucked away on the bay side of Longboat Key, and it’s one of my favorite quiet spots. Take a picnic lunch, walk the paths and enjoy the nature all around you, and be sure to bring your camera. For more about living on the island, see my Longboat Key guide.
Durante Park at a glance
- Address: 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228
- Location: bay side of Longboat Key, about two miles from the north end of the island
- Size: about 32 acres of restored wetland and coastal hammock
- Run by: Town of Longboat Key
- Cost: free, with free parking
- Hours: daily, sunrise to sunset
- Trail: 1.4-mile walking loop with boardwalks and Sarasota Bay overlooks
- Facilities: gazebo pavilion, picnic tables, playground, restrooms and water fountains
- Dogs: welcome on a leash
What is Durante Park like?
Durante Park is one of the few undeveloped pieces of land left on Longboat Key, with homes, condos and shops around it and Sarasota Bay on the east side. Once you’re on the trail, it’s quiet. Paths wind through mangroves and a shady coastal hammock of native trees, and boardwalks lead out to observation decks over the bay. Near the back of the park there’s a little rise the park staff call Hamburger Hill, about 13 feet above sea level, with a picnic table shaded by gumbo limbo and sea grape trees. Look for wading birds, fish and crabs along the water.
What is there to do at Durante Park?
- Walk the trail. The 1.4-mile loop is flat and easy, with shell paths and boardwalks through the mangroves.
- Take in the bay. Observation decks look out over Sarasota Bay. Early morning and late afternoon light are lovely for photos.
- Have a picnic. Bring lunch to the gazebo pavilion or one of the picnic tables.
- Watch for wildlife. Birds are a big part of the visit, and winter brings more migrating species.
- Bring the dog. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
- Let the kids play. There’s a playground near the parking area.
Durante Park history and storm repairs
The park started with a gift. In 1994, James Durante offered the Town of Longboat Key $750,000 to restore the land in memory of his late wife, Joan. At the time, the site had run-down bungalows and was overgrown with invasive plants. The town worked with partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which awarded a $195,000 grant, to turn it into the wetland and coastal hammock you see today. The gazebo pavilion dates to 1996.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged boardwalks, observation decks and trees in 2024. The town rebuilt the boardwalks and reopened the trail in late 2025, and repairs to the gazebo pavilion were finished in spring 2026.
What should you know before visiting Durante Park?
- Go early or late. Mornings and late afternoons are cooler, and the park closes at sunset.
- Wear walking shoes. Much of the trail is crushed shell.
- Bring water, bug spray and sunscreen. The hammock is shady, but the bay overlooks are in full sun.
- Keep dogs leashed. Leashes are required here. The only off-leash dog park on the island is at Bayfront Park.
- Check after storms. Trails and the gazebo have closed for repairs before. The Town of Longboat Key at 941-316-1988 has current updates.
Living near Durante Park
Having a quiet bayside park like this in the middle of the island is part of what makes Longboat Key special. If you’re thinking about a home or condo on Longboat Key, or on the mainland in Bradenton or Palmetto, I’m happy to help you sort out the options, the flood zones and the true monthly costs. Start with my Longboat Key guide.
Durante Park questions people ask
Where is Durante Park on Longboat Key?
Joan M. Durante Community Park is at 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228, on the Sarasota Bay side about two miles from the north end of the island.
Is Durante Park free?
Yes. There is no entrance fee, and parking is free.
What are the hours at Durante Park?
The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset.
Are dogs allowed at Durante Park?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Please clean up after them.
How long is the trail at Durante Park?
The walking loop is about 1.4 miles, with boardwalks through the mangroves and observation decks on Sarasota Bay.
Is the Durante Park gazebo open?
The gazebo pavilion closed in 2024 for safety repairs, and the town finished those repairs in spring 2026. Call the Town of Longboat Key at 941-316-1988 for current status.
Thinking about living near Durante Park?
Tell me what matters most, whether that’s a bay view, a beach walk, a low-maintenance condo or your budget. I’ll send you what’s available on Longboat Key and nearby, or a straight read on what your home would sell for.
Call or text 941-737-6562, schedule a call, or grab one of my free guides.
Clear answers, no pressure. I’ll give you a straight read on what’s out there and what it takes.
More guides
- Longboat Key — island living, beaches and homes.
- Emerson Point Preserve — trails, a temple mound and kayaking in Palmetto.
- Terra Ceia — a quiet bayfront island community near the Skyway.
- Manatee County Homeowner Handbook — taxes, insurance, flood zones, hurricanes and more.
Looking for a home on Longboat Key?
Online searches show you what’s listed. A free consultation with our buyer specialist, Celeste Schott, helps you find what’s right: the true costs, the neighborhoods that fit, and the homes worth seeing first.