HistoricalBrief

Venice Area Beautification, Inc., was created as a non-profit organization in
1990 by the Venice Chamber of Commerce. Its original goal was to receive state highway
beautification funds from the Florida Department of Transportation in order to install plants,
shrubs and trees along U.S. 41, Business and Bypass. VABI's next objective was to promote
collaborative partnerships in order to accomplish the number one priority of the 2020 Visions of
Venice Task Force-- the Venetian Waterway Park. The City of Venice now has a ten-mile bike
and walking trail along the Intracoastal Waterway, completed in 2007.VABI also partnered with the
2002 Class of Leadaership Sarasota County, creating Freedom Walk at Patriots Park, Venetia Bay, to
honor our military and first responders. In 2005, VABI established a Public Arts Committee to
develop mural projects in the greater Venice Area. In 2006, VABI and the Gulf Coast Community
Foundation and City of Venice began work to create an arboretum at West Blalock Park.
Most recently, in 2011, VABI completed improvements to John Nolen Park and Prentiss French Park.