Plan pitched to transform 235-acre Toytown landfill into a premier sports complex
/The Toytown landfill site is located at 10540 16th Street North near Interstate 275 and Roosevelt Boulevard | Google Maps
Pinellas County is once again seeking a partner to develop the decommissioned 235-acre "Toytown" landfill in north St. Petersburg.
The expansive site, located at 10540 16th Street North near Interstate 275 and Roosevelt Boulevard, operated as a landfill from the 1960s until its closure by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in 1990.
The property has been considered for development many times in the past 20 years, yet no group has been able to successfully bring a project to fruition.
In 2002, the County looked into turning the property into a golf course.
Six years later, in 2008, the County released a request for proposal (RFP) seeking a partner to develop the site and selected a group that proposed building 1.5-million square feet of shopping, 1.5-million square feet of offices and 1,500 homes. The deal fell through in 2011.
In 2015, the County released another RFP, which garnered three proposals—a solar panel complex, a town center, and a Braves spring training ballpark backed by former baseball star and Tampa native Gary Sheffield and St. Petersburg developer Darryl LeClair.
The County has attempted to redevelop the 235-acre decommissioned landfill numerous times over the past 20 years | Google Maps
The town center proposal got disqualified for violating a county lobbying ordinance and the solar panel complex would've required a contract with Duke Energy, which didn't seem realistic.
The third, and favored, proposal to bring an Atlanta Braves spring training facility to Pinellas County started to unravel in 2016 after Major League Baseball expressed opposition, opting to focus on resolving the Tampa Bay Rays ongoing stadium search.
That brings us to present day, when in December, Pinellas County issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking a partner to develop the County-owned “Toytown” site into a large youth sports complex, hosting a wide range of local, regional, and national competitions.
The idea of developing a youth sports complex on the property emerged after Clearwater-based Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), a firm specializing in sports complex development and management, presented a 2023 report to Pinellas County Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council highlighting the potential benefits of such a facility in the area.
The county’s RFP closed on February 4th, however a 30-day hold on releasing submissions prevented St. Pete Rising from obtaining the submissions until recently.
A development proposal from Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) would bring a total of 20 diamonds to the toytown site, making it one of the top baseball/softball destinations in the nation | SFC
The county received one proposal from Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the same company that furnished the report which was presented to Commissioners in 2023.
The group has proposed a youth sports complex which includes the following:
12 baseball/softball diamonds with artificial turf.
8 youth baseball/softball diamonds with artificial turf for age 12 and under programming.
Five dedicated synthetic turf ‘long fields’ for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and football, including one “championship” field with elevated scoreboards, seating, and ticketed event capabilities.
24 pickleball courts.
A sand pit with 12 sand volleyball courts.
According to the proposal, having a total of 20 diamonds onsite would make Toytown one of the top baseball/softball destinations in the nation.
Beyond sports, the redeveloped site would also host festivals, fairs, and other entertainment attractions.
To support site design, engineering, and construction, SFC has partnered with Kansas-based Mammoth Sports Construction, a sports management and development company.
Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) proposal calls for 20 baseball/softball diamonds, 5 long fields for soccer and football, 24 pickleball courts, and 12 sand volleyball courts | SFC
"As an option, Mammoth and SFC have proposed to bring a Mammoth Fieldhouse attraction to the site. This exciting 'eatertainment' destination features putting, simulators, and an interactive dining experience," the proposal adds.
To accommodate visitors, the project would include surface parking and possibly a parking garage, with an estimated 2,100 vehicle spaces required.
The project is estimated to cost approximately $150 million to $200 million and projected to generate over $350 million in direct economic impact within its first five years of operation.
As for next steps, the county may ask SFC to submit detailed site designs, financial proposals, and operating plans for further negotiations.
In addition to the sports complex, SFC has received interest from local and national organizations in areas such as multi-family affordable housing, renewable energy, hotels, and restaurants to complement the site’s redevelopment.
