The brand new St. Pete Pier is nearing completion in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg and is set to open in Spring 2020. Promoted as “A New Pier for Everyone,” Sunshine City Kids challenged that title with some important questions to City of St. Petersburg staff about (you guessed it) the family-friendliness of the Pier.
While there are many exciting features of this revamped development, we focused on the ones parents have been dying to know most about. Here’s some of what to expect for families looking forward to visiting the Pier next spring, from shade to safety and everything in between.
Overview
The St. Pete Pier, a replacement for the Inverted Pyramid Pier demolished in 2015, will be an updated and multifaceted space for public use. Features including a fishing deck, restaurants, marketplace, and so much more ensure that this place will be THE new spot for residents and visitors alike to meet and play for years to come.
Family Park + Kid’s Play Area
Situated between the Spa Beach Pavilion and the Pier Plaza and Tilted Lawn, the biggest source of excitement for families tends to center around the Family Park and Kids Play Area. The focal point here will be a marine-themed playground, accessible to children of all abilities and designed by Earthscape Play, an award-winning playground design and build company.
The playground will be nestled in an area with plenty of large trees; designers took special care to plan around and preserve much of the existing landscape. Beyond those, additional shade trees are being installed, and there will be a net gain of 500 trees on the new Pier grounds.
In the Family Park, there will be two recreation areas: a junior play area for children ages 2 to 5 and a senior play area — complete with a giant kraken, seaweed tower, and shipwreck — for kids up to age 12. They will join together to create a single play zone for all to enjoy and will be just a short distance from the splash pad and interactive water fountain.
Discovery Center + Wet Classroom
Another engaging aspect of the Pier is sure to be the Discovery Center and Wet Classroom. Operated by Tampa Bay Watch, the Discovery Center will offer a wide array of science programs to expand public involvement in scientific discovery. It will include an Exhibit Hall to demonstrate the economic and ecological value of the Tampa Bay estuary to visitors, plus a classroom to expand educational outreach programs to Tampa Bay area schools.
The centerpiece of the Exhibit Hall is an aquarium that showcases many of the species found in our local waters and includes touch tanks, interactive displays, video presentations, and docent-led tours.
In addition to the Discovery Center, Tampa Bay Watch will also offer eco-tours aboard a new U.S. Coast Guard-certified vessel that will be used for school field trips and eco-adventures open to the public.
Sustainability
The St. Pete Pier was designed with a strict focus on sustainable measures and environmental protection. These initiatives include the use of eco-trams and electric vehicle charging stations, solar PV panel covered market structures and parking canopies, and LED lighting. Furthermore, new breakwaters will enhance the restoration of Spa Beach and mitigate erosion, and the coastal thicket will be fertilizer-free.
Safety
While specific fencing requirements will be identified once the sitework is completed, a fence separating the Kids Play Area from a planned retention pond is in the works. Concerning water safety, Spa Beach will be periodically tested with public notifications and posted signage as is done at North Shore Beach. The City also received a grant from the American Academy of Dermatology for a shade structure at Spa Beach Park.
Cost
There will be no cost to access the Pier. Rides on the tram are also free, but there will be standard parking fees if you choose to drive. Goods and services will be available for purchase at the Pier Marketplace from a variety of local vendors in addition to the restaurants, cafes, and bar offering food and drinks at various prices.
Get excited, St. Petersburg — the St. Pete Pier is a real gamechanger. Find out more at www.newstpetepier.com.
