Just down the road from Lakewood Ranch, Main Street we have Waterside Place. Schroeder-Manatee Ranch approaches the planned opening of Lakewood Ranch's $31.6 million restaurants and entertainment hub. They are also looking to have a soft opening in May of 2021…. They have yet to announce an anchor tenant restaurant but are super excited to complete the project that broke ground back in October of 2018. They see that Waterside place is estimated to have a number of tenants. Lakewood Ranch Commercial has announced 10 businesses and restaurants scheduled to open in the spring and Boylston said they have leased 12,000-square foot of office space. With COVID-19 vaccines now being provided for the public, Boylston said he expects rapid changes in 2021 as people begin to return to their normal lifestyles. Since the pandemic, Lakewood Ranch Communities and Lakewood Ranch Community activities have opened 23 new art and fitness programs. Some of those programs will be duplicated at Waterside Place while others might take a different form or be completely different than what already is offered. Waterside Place will have an 8-acre island park that will include a splash pad and sand volleyball courts. There will be open space for yoga, barre, concerts, cornhole, and a speaker series. Eventually, Waterside Place will have bike rentals and water taxi rides, all expected in 2021.
