By Peter Roos
The long anticipated completion and public opening of the $92 million Pier District was delayed several times, including twice due to virus concerns. Attendees were masked most of the time at the July 6th celebration of the Southeast’s largest waterfront entertainment district, the St. Pete Pier™. Nevertheless, reviews have been very positive.
A 26-acre extension of St. Pete’s bustling city center, visitors are able to enjoy countless experiences, from pop-up performances to inspiring public art installations. Once coronavirus worries are over, The Pier will host major events including concerts, markets and more.
The Pier opens 30 minutes before sunrise; it closes at 11pm. The fire marshall listed capacity at 20,000+. About half that many attended opening day. While limited to 2,500 invites each hour, more than 10,000 came and some felt it was too crowded for safe social distancing.
Located at 800 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 and online at www.stpetepier.org,
The Pier is also active on social media.
Twitter: @StPetePier
Instagram: @stpetepier
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StPetePier/
Hashtags: #StPetePier
The St. Pete Pier has been an icon of the City throughout its history. Dating back to 1889, the Pier has seen several iterations, including:
- 1889 – Railroad Pier
- 1905 – The Electric Pier
- 1913 – Municipal Recreation Pier
- 1926 – Million Dollar Pier
- 1973 – The (Inverted Pyramid) Pier
- 2020 – The St. Pete Pier and St. Pete Pier District
With five acres of green space and a net increase of 500 trees, the Pier provides visitors plenty of space for outdoor activities: picnics, lounging in the sun and finding a shaded spot to enjoy bay and city views. Multiple activity areas offer something for all ages and activity levels.
Playground by Earthscape
The kids’ play area is located near the Splash Pad and Spa Beach, so kids and their families can enjoy the sunshine and outdoors. With a natural, all-wood design, the play areas incorporate child-friendly, age specific zones of activity.
Splash Pad
At the heart of the St. Pete Pier is a water fountain and splash pad. During hot summer days, the Splash Pad offers a place for families to splash around. It features big and small vertical water jets, which light up at night.
Spa Beach
Easily accessible on foot from anywhere along St. Pete’s downtown waterfront, Spa Beach has been expanded with a naturalized shoreline. Beach volleyball and other activities abound, and kayakers and paddle boarders can easily launch from this area.
Titled Lawn
The Titled Lawn features a slanted, state-of-the-art design, providing a relaxing, grassy surface on which visitors can relax and enjoy views of the St. Pete waterfront and skyline.
Coastal Thicket
The Coastal Thicket is a place for nature lovers and explorers to discover native vegetation and learn more about St. Pete’s natural ecosystem.
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center provides guests from around the world an upfront opportunity to learn and live the story of the recovery of the Tampa Bay ecosystem. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in varied educational programming or simply enjoy the view from the Discovery Center observation deck. With steps leading closer to the water, visitors will be able to see varied wildlife up close and personal. Dolphins, rays, manatees, fish and seabirds are just some of the species that call this area their home.
Fishing Deck
The new Pier has a dedicated Fishing Platform built on caissons leftover from the previous Inverted Pyramid pier, inviting you to get closer to the water – and the fish. Walk down a small set of steps to a spacious deck that accommodates a multitude of people enjoying one of St. Petersburg’s favorite pastimes in the fish-fertile waters of Tampa Bay. Feel free to bring your own rods, reels, bait and tackle, but don’t fret it if you want to fish on a whim. Gator Jim’s Tackle at the St. Pete Pier provides everything an angler could need – gear, tackle, nets, a large variety of fresh and frozen bait, and more.
DINING OPPORTUNITIES
Spa Beach Bistro
This inviting entry point to the St. Pete Pier features a concession that offers grab-and-go snack items for beachgoers, as well as personal pizzas, (gluten free too) chicken fingers, sweet potato and eggplant chips to name just a few. The Spa Beach Bistro is surrounded by colorful tables and chairs, so you can munch on a snack, sip a drink, enjoy good times with friends and family, or just exhale and enjoy the view.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
At the southern end of the Overlook, where you’re most apt to find a party, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant/bar serves authentic Florida fare and flavors from throughout the Caribbean Rim. Enjoy their famous Yucatan shrimp, chicken wings, flatbreads and more!
The Driftwood Cafe is a casual walkup spot offering ice cream and snacks, including healthy options. A rooftop (5th floor) classic tiki bar with a tropical atmosphere, picturesque views and craft tiki cocktails, Pier Teaki is on top of the building at The Point, where there is usually a breeze. One floor down is Teak, a modern waterfront restaurant, featuring a Florida-themed menu.
Frescos remains at the base of the pier and a plethora of dining and shopping alternatives lie within a few blocks walk to the west.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center will provide guests from around the world an upfront opportunity to learn and live the story of the recovery of the Tampa Bay ecosystem. The focal point of the exhibit hall is a centerpiece aquarium that will showcase many of the species found in local waters. Touch tanks, interactive displays, video presentations, and docent-led tours will combine for an unforgettable experience that will, hopefully, lead to guests walking away with a newfound respect for our local environment and how small steps can make big changes. The Discovery Center will also feature 1,000 square feet of classroom and event space.
The St. Pete Pier incorporates many of the best trends in modern urban living. It’s eminently walkable. In fact, no cars are permitted. The Pier has been built as a modular series of destinations, each one conveniently leading into the next, making for a cohesive adventure with new surprises at every turn. Visitors are able to plan an itinerary, choose a favorite landing spot, or just show up and explore.
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
The St. Pete Pier was designed with a focus on sustainable measures and environmental protection, including:
● Trams and electric vehicle charging stations. Much of the roadway has been eliminated and there is reduced parking of personal vehicles, reducing associated pollution over the bay.
● Solar PV panel covered market structures and solar PV panel covered parking canopies that provide power to many areas of the new Pier.
● New breakwaters to enhance the restoration of Spa Beach, mitigate erosion and provide protection for surrounding sea grass beds.
● LED lighting throughout the Pier District to keep costs down and reduce energy usage and minimize light pollution.
● The caissons and pier foundations are made of super tough concrete designed to withstand extreme weather and built to have a lifetime of at least 80 years.
● Not only were extreme wind, weather, and hurricane risks considered and resistance incorporated into the design, but the new Pier at its highest point is 11 inches above projected sea level rise for year 2100 based on the 2015 Climate Science Advisory Panel (CSAP) projections.
● Use of herbicide, pesticides and fertilizer is minimized. The Coastal Thicket is fertilizer free and designed for low to no maintenance.
● The Playground has natural products such as Robinia/black locust wood for equipment, and recycled products.
PUBLIC ART
St. Petersburg has become one of the most recognized cultural hubs in the Southeast. And downtown St. Pete is its epicenter. Featuring museums devoted to artistic legends like Dali and Chihuly and street upon street adorned by colorful murals both large and small, it is easy to see why “Art Shines Here.” The St. Pete Pier and Pier District are no exception. Not only is the pier itself a work of art, but is host to installations from four internationally renowned artists.
SHOPPING
The Marketplace is located just past the Pier’s Gateway and features a rotating array of independent vendors selling unique items in kiosks and under 10’x10’ tents. A solar roof structure provides shade as you browse the selections and meet the sellers. St. Pete’s buy-local culture is represented in this lively bazaar. Marketplace lease agreements run three to 12 months, ensuring that a rotating cast of vendors will be on hand to sell an interesting array of products, many with a local flair.
Marketplace Hours:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10am-6pm
Local markets, outdoor health and fitness activities, concerts and performances, food & drink festivals and so much more. Seasonal events will not be forgotten, from Oktoberfest, Fall Festival, Easter Egg Hunt, Holiday Festival and Spring Festival. Once or twice per year, there will be major festivals that encompass the entire Pier District.
TRANSPORTATION
The Pier District will have three 12-passenger trams are ADA accessible and designed to tow a 35-passenger trailer, if needed. Two electric vehicles, able to carry 11 passengers each are available for special occasions. Trams will run continuously and stop at the following locations: the entrance plaza, Pelican Lot, Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center and The Point. The St. Pete Pier’s large Pelican parking lot is located just south of the Pavilion and Pier Plaza.
Outside the Pier complex, metered street parking is available, as are several downtown parking garages and lots within walking distance of The Pier. Fees at these facilities vary. The anticipated rates are projected to be $10 for all day, with an incremental charge per hour of $2. Prices are subject to change during special events. Payment Type: Cash/Credit card and Parkmobile app. The St. Pete Pier is bicycle-friendly. The Coast Bike Share program has docking stations within the Pier District. Bike racks are available for personal bicycles. There will also be approximately 25 boat slips with metered docking located on the south side of the Pelican Parking Lot.
The St. Pete Pier is so nice. I love going there. Thank you St. Pete for this great pier! I just wish bicycling on the pier would not be allowed. Some bicyclists seem to think they have the right away. My little chihuahua and I were walking on the pier close to the side rails and were almost hit by a bicyclist in January. The bicyclist was speeding by us, he then shouted for me to pay attention! People need to be alerted about bikes and trams on the pier and reminded to be very watchful, especially of their children and pets.