Local studio to host mat-Pilates at Belleair Beach parks; committee backs event and schedules volunteer plantings

Holly, who identified herself as the studio manager at Body Bar in Belleair Beach, asked the Parks & Recreation Committee for permission to host free mat-Pilates community events on committee-managed park space. The committee expressed support and discussed logistics including space, capacity, insurance and vendor approvals.

Holly said the studio typically draws 20–30 participants for an outdoor mat class and uses Eventbrite to cap attendance; she told the committee the studio would ask any vendor to supply a certificate of insurance. "So my name is Holly. I'm the studio manager at Body Bar in Belleair Beach," she said in her opening remarks, adding the studio could cap tickets and send promotional materials to the committee for posting.

Committee members discussed possible event locations (pickleball courts, tennis area or the grassy area by the water), site suitability and avoiding interference with regular court users. The group recommended starting with a mat-only format and tentatively agreed on Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m. for the pilot event, with Holly asked to provide insurance and a flyer for promotion. "I'll email you tomorrow evening," Holly told members as she agreed to follow up with event details and promotional copy.

The meeting also covered broader community-event planning for a June family-fun event. Members explored formats for pickleball play, music bingo, trivia, basketball free-throw games and vendor options. They discussed food and beverage logistics, including that offering alcohol as part of paid admission may require licensing; the committee agreed to pursue snack and nonalcoholic options if licensing issues aren’t resolved.

Separately, members scheduled volunteer median planting and cleanup work to prepare for spring plantings. The committee set a volunteer work date for 9 a.m. on April 28 to prep medians at 6th, 12th and 19th streets, discussed shell vs. mulch and potting options, and asked staff to coordinate irrigation access and the availability of donated plants (Wilcox Nursery was mentioned as a potential donor).

Committee members asked that staff and volunteers coordinate follow-up steps (confirmation of May 9 availability, insurance documents from vendors, Eventbrite ticket caps and planting supplies) and agreed to evaluate how the pilot Pilates event and the median planting proceed at the committee’s next meeting.