St. Petersburg Council OKs Trails Crossing master plan agreements, 7-1

The St. Petersburg City Council voted to let the city execute agreements needed to complete a master plan for the Trails Crossing cultural park, a project that would transform underused land beneath I-275 to connect the Pinellas Trail with neighboring districts.

Transportation Manager Cheryl Stacks presented the plan and said the project focuses on four blocks from 1st Avenue North to 3rd Avenue South and includes improved bicycle and pedestrian connections, public art, and a maintenance and governance strategy for a public'private partnership. "Trails Crossing is a community initiated request for a concept that transforms and improves underutilized land under I-275 to connect the Pinellas Trail with adjacent districts," Stacks told council during the presentation.

The city completed a solicitation for architecture and engineering services and identified Land Design Inc. as the most qualified firm to develop the master plan. Stacks told the council the city and the nonprofit Friends of Trails Crossing Group will each provide an equal financial contribution "of up to $150,000" to cover consultant costs and city administrative expenses associated with the agreement.

Longtime business and property owner John Barquette, a cofounder of Friends of Trails Crossing, urged council to proceed. "This is more than a park. It's a cultural landmark in the making," Barquette said during public comment, arguing the project would improve walkability, create safer bike routes and boost economic opportunity in adjacent neighborhoods.

Council members voiced broad support for advancing the master plan but pressed staff on how the project would affect parking in the area. Several members raised concerns about Vertical Ventures, an existing climbing gym that leases city parking lots adjacent to the proposed park. Council Member Mike Harding asked for "more specific" assurances that the project would not put the business out of operation by removing needed parking; Transportation Manager Stacks said the consultant scope includes stakeholder engagement and phased implementation so parking needs can be addressed before construction.

City staff and council noted the plan will be phased and that the public will have additional review points before any major construction. After extended discussion, the motion to authorize the agreements passed 7'to'1 with Council Member Vic Sanders voting no, citing uncertainty about parking and impacts on a locally owned business.

Next steps include community engagement, data collection, design workshops and delivery of draft and final master plan reports by the consultant. Council members and staff said the master plan will include recommendations on land use, parking solutions, utilities and stormwater resilience and will identify funding approaches for later implementation.

The council action allows city staff to execute the agreements necessary to start the master-plan work; construction, funding and zoning changes will come later and require additional public review and approvals.