Wellen Park Breaks Ground on 80-Acre Mixed Use
Downtown Wellen is expected to become the central hub and gathering place for the master-planned community.
VENICE, FL—Wellen Park has broken ground on Downtown Wellen, the mixed-use development that will become the central hub and gathering place for the master-planned community. Downtown Wellen will feature an 80-acre lake, retail shops, waterfront dining, pedestrian-friendly streets and public community spaces that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
During the recent groundbreaking event, attendees took part in a selection of activities that previewed the kind of event programming and fun, vibrant atmosphere that Downtown Wellen will feature, including flower bouquet-making from a popular mobile floral vendor, specialty drinks from a retrofitted vintage horse trailer-turned modern boutique bar, and an interactive painting station where guests painted pavers that will be used as part of colorful walkway in the downtown area.
The groundbreaking ceremony was conducted with special ceremonial shovels artistically painted by Wellen Park development partners, local officials and community members. The shovels will be featured as a permanent art installation once Downtown Wellen opens.
“The entire event was curated to reflect the vibe of Downtown Wellen,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “We don’t want to wait until next year to start celebrating and enjoying the Downtown Wellen experience.”
As part of the groundbreaking, Wellen Park revealed a new series of curated events to start this fall that will inspire, excite and provide an ongoing preview of what’s to come with Downtown Wellen, according to a prepared release. Featuring a range of makers, craft artisans, fitness and wellness experts, and culinary talent, the “Countdown to Downtown” event series will take place in and around the Wellen Park Welcome Center, which offers a front-row view of the construction progress in Downtown Wellen.
Expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2022, “Downtown Wellen will be a vibrant gathering place for both the community and larger region and the go-to destination to spend time as a family or meet up with friends, with endless ways to enjoy a high-energy afternoon or a relaxing evening,” the release says.
“It will be the heart and soul of Wellen Park,” said Severance. “There are just a lot of really thoughtful elements that will be interesting, fun and definitely Instagram-worthy.”
In addition to shops and restaurants, Downtown Wellen will include a permanent food truck park, a Great Lawn for community celebrations or just enjoying the sunshine, and a Town Hall that will host concerts and events. Nature-inspired features like a hammock grove and a lounge area underneath a nearly 100-year-old heritage oak tree will connect visitors with the outdoors and offer spots for rest and relaxation.