Amid the rapid growth and development of Downtown St. Pete there is often concern about the preservation of green space and public amenities. While the City of St. Petersburg boasts a vast network of over 150 public parks, there are fewer open spaces in Downtown St. Pete’s western neighborhoods like the EDGE District or along Dr. MLK Jr Street. However, that may soon change thanks to a handful of proactive community members who spoke up about the dearth of public green space in the area.

Last week, St. Pete’s City Council voted to authorize $450,000 for the creation of a new city park on a half-acre patch of underutilized land situated under an I-375 overpass at the corner of 5th Avenue North and Dr. MLK Jr Street North.

John Barkett, owner of Barkett Realty which is based in Historic Uptown, helped spearhead the idea of the park. “I originally pitched the idea to City Council member Gina Driscoll almost two years ago and she saw the value in it. For us, this was a way to bridge the gap between the two districts - Downtown St. Pete and Historic Uptown,” says Barkett. “This has been a long time in the making.”

Currently the area under I-375 and Dr. MLK Jr. Street is dimly lit and fenced off from use by the public. Once the park is complete, it will serve as a vital connection between the two neighborhoods, increasing the desirability and walkability of the area. 

According to a site plan of the park, amenities will include solar powered lighting, benches, new sod, and the addition of trees. “As our city continues to grow, we need to reimagine some of these urban elements and incorporate them into the fabric of our community through green space, art, and practical uses,” says St. Pete City Council member Gina Driscoll.

Importantly, in addition to recreational amenities, the new park will include 47 parking spaces for use by patrons of the park as well as for customers frequenting nearby businesses in Historic Uptown and the MLK Business District. The spaces could also be utilized for special events in the neighborhood. Nine of the spaces will be time restricted and free to use while the remaining 38 spaces will be available for a fee on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis. 

The first phase of the park could be completed in as little as a few months, once approval is granted from the Florida Department of Transportation. The City of St. Pete’s Parks & Recreation department along with the Transportation & Parking department worked together to bring the project to fruition and construction is expected to be completed in-house. Funding will come from the City’s Weeki Wachee Fund and from the parking department.

Looking ahead, there has already been discussion on a second phase of enhancements to the park. Conceptually, phase two would include a mural along the side of I-375 with lighting that would activate and enhance the art at night. St. Anthony’s Hospital, which recently broke ground on a 90-bed expansion just a few blocks away from the new park, has already committed funding for the mural. The second phase could also include additional recreational amenities, such as a pickle ball court. However a timeline for phase two has not yet been decided. 

Once complete, the park will reactivate an underutilized lot for the benefit of the greater community while also providing parking for customers of the neighborhood’s small businesses. The park will go before St. Pete’s City Council for a final vote of approval on March 12th. If you wish to signal your support for the park or provide feedback, you can email City Council at council@stpete.org.