William Waddill Promoted to Chief Operating Officer

The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), the non-profit organization responsible for overseeing the redevelopment of 53 acres of City-owned land along Sarasota Bay into an iconic public park, is excited to announce the promotion of William Waddill to Chief Operating Officer.

In his new role, Waddill will be responsible for overall operational management of The Bay Park Conservancy and The Bay Park as each phase of the site is completed. He will have responsibility for planning and design, development and operations as the BPC assumes management responsibility of the park, including the coordination of activation and programming to ensure a world-class park guest experience.

“Bill has been an instrumental piece of The Bay Park Conservancy since inception, and it delights us to expand his role to Chief Operating Officer,” says AG Lafley, Founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. “He has the knowledge, leadership, energy and drive to both develop and manage Sarasota’s own central park.”

Waddill, a long term Sarasota resident now well known for his weekly BPC Construction Updates, oversees the entirety of implementation for The Bay Park, including the management of design teams, city approval and permitting processes, and the building, operations and maintenance of the park. Through his efforts, The Bay is on track to open Phase 1 of the park in October 2022. 

“I’ve worked on a lot of great park projects over the years, but none as exciting and transformative as The Bay,” says Waddill. “Our dedicated team is thrilled to transform this 53 acres into an iconic destination for all in our community.”

Bill Waddill is a certified planner and landscape architect with over 36 years of experience managing the design, public engagement, and implementation process for both public and private projects, including the Bradenton Riverwalk, Siesta Beach Park, Perry Harvey Park in Tampa, Babcock Ranch Town Center in Ft. Myers, and Baker Park in Naples. He is a member of the AICP, PLA, and ASLA.