The Meadows

As one of Sarasota’s longest lasting planned developments, The Meadows stands out as a beautiful, mature community focused on appreciating Florida’s greenery and wildlife. This was the vision of its original developer, Francis “Frank” Taylor, a British entrepreneur and founder of the UK-based construction company that built The Meadows, Taylor Woodrow. Taylor initially became interested in Sarasota for a different project, one aimed at building apartments or a hotel on a parcel suggested by realtors in New York. However, upon arriving in Sarasota and discovering the parcel had already sold, he turned his attention elsewhere: a 1,650-acre parcel in the north of the county that he fell in love with. In 1973, he purchased the land and began development the following year. In 1977, the first homes in The Meadows were sold, and over the next decade, many of the community’s iconic features were completed, such as its clubhouse, 17-court tennis facility, and three separate golf courses (The Meadows, Highlands, and Groves). More recently, The Meadows has seen the addition of more amenities, such as pickleball courts in 2014 and the Meadows Community Lifestyle and Wellness Facility in 2021.