Notices

Manatee County Offices Closed on Good Friday

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 31, 2026) – Manatee County Government offices will be closed Friday, April 3, 2026, in observance of the Good Friday holiday. All County offices will reopen Monday, April 6, 2026.

All Manatee County Public Libraries will be closed for the holiday and will reopen Saturday, April 4, with normal hours. Braden River and Lakewood Ranch libraries (the only locations with Sunday hours) will be closed on Easter Sunday.

G.T. Bray Recreation Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Good Friday and Easter Sunday with all check-ins occurring at the Recreation Center and a modified group exercise schedule. The pool will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Good Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Easter Sunday. After 1 p.m., access to the pool will be through the aquatics gate. Lincoln Aquatic Center will be open Good Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Easter 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Manatee County Area Transit and the Anna Maria Island Trolley will operate normal daily routes.

Manatee County’s publicly owned natural preserves, parks and beaches will be open to the public. Manatee County and Buffalo Creek Golf Courses will also be open.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on X, @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

Manatee County Advances Fresh Start Initiative, Honors Those Who Shaped Our Community

Manatee County, Fla. (March 24, 2026) — The Manatee Board of County Commissioners has approved a key milestone for the Fresh Start initiative, marking another addition to the County’s ecosystem of support for people in need. This action starts a transformational project aimed at addressing homelessness, while separate items recognize community leaders and support citizen engagement.

Fresh Start Phase 1 Approved

Commissioners approved the next step to move forward with Phase 1 of the Fresh Start program. Fresh Start will provide temporary housing and support services to help people get back on their feet. Phase 1 construction is expected to begin in late April 2026 and follow a 180-day schedule.

Phase 1 includes:

62 beds

Kitchen and dining facilities

Laundry and lounge areas

Office and consultation space

Outdoor secure areas with shade structures

“Fresh Start is about more than shelter, it’s about creating a pathway forward,” said District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard. “By pairing shelter with supportive services, we’re helping individuals rebuild their lives while strengthening our community as a whole.”

Phase 2 is currently in design, with construction documents expected in May 2026 and a GMP anticipated later this summer. Pending approval, mobilization could begin in Fall 2026 with a 180-day construction schedule. Phase 2 is expected to add 84 beds and expanded support facilities.

Additional Board Actions

The Board also approved several items recognizing community legacy and supporting public engagement:

Named the Washington Park Community Center the “Lawrence C. and Clifford B. Livingston Community Center” (Resolution R-26-027)

Named the addition at David J. Crane Park the “Carol Ann Billberry Felts Preserve at David J. Crane Park” (Resolution R-26-038)

Appointed the following residents living in the Unincorporated Manatee County to the Citizens Oversight Committee for the Infrastructure Sales Tax Advisory Board (two-year terms):

John A. Mele

Wayne Stellfox

Moving Forward

The Fresh Start initiative and accompanying Board actions highlight Manatee County’s balanced approach to addressing immediate needs while planning for long-term community success.

“This is what responsible government looks like,” Ballard added. “We’re investing in our ecosystem of support, honoring those who shaped our community, and taking real, measurable steps to support our most vulnerable residents.”

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org