Phillippi Creek

Phillippi Creek is a 7.2 miles (11.6 km) tidal creek in Sarasota, Florida.[1] In 2026 it is being dredged to prevent flooding during storms. A railroad trestle is being removed next to a Legacy Trail crossing.

Named for Phillippi Bermudez who had a fishing rancho in the area, Phillippi Creek is used for fishing and paddlesports including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.[2] Phillippi Estate Park, including the Edson Keith Estate, are along the creek.[3] A seasonal farmers' market event is held there on Wednesdays, from October through to April.[4]

Phillippi Creek was dredged and damned in the 1880s and 1960s.[2]

It flows from the Fruitville, Florida area through various neighborhoods including Southgate, Pinecraft, Florida, River Forest, Forest Lakes, and Maine Colony.[2]

It passes by the Pinecraft Park, Riverview High School and the Victor Lundy designed Southgate Community Center.[2] Artist Syd Solomon lived along it.[5] Dams helped irrigate citrus. Dredged and channelized water moves faster down it and flooding has been a problem.[2]

The Phillippi Creek Basin, also known as Roberts Bay North Watershed, drains about 57 square miles (150 km2).

Homes flooded along it in 2024 as a result of major storms including Hurricane Debby. In 2025 Sarasota County received a federal permit to dredge it.[6][7] Sarasota County budgeted about $17 million to remove sediment deposits from the creek.[8][9] In 2025 Sarasota County spent about $2.5 million to acquire 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) of property on Ashton Road for a new park along Phillippi Creek that will provide boating access.[10]

Florida State Road 758 crosses the creek. Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar is along it.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Phillippi Creek" (PDF). Sarasota County scgov.net – via Science and Environment Council, Sarasota.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Hidden in Plain Sight, Phillippi Creek is Rich in Nature and History". Sarasota Magazine.
  3. ^ "Phillippi Estate Park and Edson Keith Mansion | Visit Sarasota County". www.visitsarasota.com.
  4. ^ "Phillippi Farmhouse Market | Sarasota County, FL". Sarasota County Parks.
  5. ^ "Inside Famed Painter Syd Solomon's Phillippi Creek Home". Sarasota Magazine.
  6. ^ Sheridan, Kerry (October 13, 2025). "Sarasota County finally gets a federal permit to dredge Phillippi Creek". WUSF.
  7. ^ Narvaez, Juliana (December 19, 2025). "Dredging project underway to address Phillippi Creek flooding issues". WWSB.
  8. ^ Chase, Noah (December 1, 2025). "Update on the dredging of Phillippi Creek". WWSB.
  9. ^ Kuizon, Kimberly (October 15, 2025). "Sarasota County gets green light to dredge Phillippi Creek". FOX 13 News.
  10. ^ "Sarasota County approves $2.5M for park on Phillippi Creek". Business Observer. November 6, 2025.
  11. ^ "Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar". Sarasota Magazine.
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