The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), the non-profit organization responsible for overseeing the transformation of 53-acres of city-owned land along Sarasota’s bayfront into a world-class public park, has reached another significant milestone. Thanks to generous community donors, The Bay has raised a second $5 million from private sources, triggering a second $1 million match from The Patterson Foundation’s current challenge match.This additional match marks the second major milestone in The Patterson Foundation’s challenge for the $24 million capital campaign announced in July 2021, which has now generated over $12 million from private philanthropic, community sources, and matches. This brings the capital campaign to the halfway point with 18 months left in the campaign. All of the funds will be used to develop and build new public park space at the Bay. In July of 2021, The Patterson Foundation announced its continuing support for The Bay by committing up to $4 million in matching funds to catalyze private donations to complete development of the first phase of the park. Each time private philanthropy donates $5 million through 2023, The Patterson Foundation will provide a $1 million match, up to a total contribution of $4 million — resulting in a $24 million investment into The Bay. The current challenge match follows a previous $5 million challenge match provided by The Patterson Foundation, which donors achieved in May of 2021. The $5 million in matching dollars helped catalyze a $20 million total investment by private philanthropy into Phase 1. This is the second major milestone in the current challenge match. This additional $12 million takes the total raised from community, private, and local government sources to over $36 million, with additional private and government commitments not included.