2018 Map of Laurel

About this map

The Intracoastal Waterway and a series of interconnected bays define this portion of the Sarasota County coastline, where the communities of Osprey, Laurel, and Vamo transition from established residential centers to preserved natural spaces. The landscape is characterized by the tidal interface of Little Sarasota Bay, Dryman Bay, and Blackburn Bay, shielded from the Gulf of Mexico by Casey Key. Inland, the massive footprint of Oscar Scherer State Park stands as a significant greenbelt, preserving the drainage patterns of South Creek. Significant 21st-century water management is visible in the north-south alignment of the Cow Pen Slough Canal, which cuts through the eastern sections near Venice. Modern infrastructure, including Tamiami Trl and the dense residential networks of Prestancia Blvd and Boca Pointe Dr, illustrates the intensive suburban development reaching toward the coastal edges.