SARASOTA COUNTY — Sarasota County will hold open-house-style meetings next week — one in North Port and one in Englewood — on the draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The plan provides a framework to promote and encourage safe and efficient bicycle and pedestrian travel within the county, as guided by the Comprehensive Plan. Interested persons can come anytime during the two-hour open houses. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the draft plan and maps identifying existing facilities and high-priority areas for improvements, and to ask questions and provide comments.

The South County meetings will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the following dates and locations: Monday, Jan. 28 at the Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 W. Price Blvd., North Port; Tuesday, Jan. 29 at the Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Road, Englewood. Additional open houses will be scheduled in February. The draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan identifies a vision, mission and purpose for a bicycle and pedestrian network. It recognizes key partnerships and ongoing efforts to increase the safety and education of bicyclists and pedestrians. It includes facility design types and graphics, points out existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and recommended connections, and identifies opportunities and deficiencies in the network for improvements. The plan is an essential tool for the county to use when applying for grant funds from state, federal and nonprofit organizations.