Article By Peter Roos
Tampa Bay Watch has been a favorite Paradise NEWS nonprofit for as long as I can remember, and they say that long-term memory is one of the last things to go. We have watched Peter Clark and his amazing, dedicated staff as they have faultlessly carried out their goals to restore Tampa Bay for more than two decades. Incorporated in 1993, Tampa Bay Watch performs habitat restoration and protection activities throughout the year, relying heavily on the efforts of community volunteers. These programs seek to build citizen awareness, concern and participation through environmental outreach.
Their latest accomplishment is truly a shining achievement: the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center in downtown St. Petersburg. Located at the brand-new St. Petersburg Pier, the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center will be the connection between Pinellas residents, visitors from all over the world and the waters that brought most of us here. It will also be the only marine environmental and educational experience in downtown St. Pete.
While the New Pier is now rescheduled to open later than the original date of May 30th, due to COVID-19 precautions, we wanted to give our readers an advance peek at what to expect once it launches. Much of the following can also be found online at www.tbwdiscoverycenter.org.
Once it opens, there will be numerous ways to make the most of your visit to the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. You can go at your own pace with the help of a free, self-guided tour map. You can take a docent-led tour that lasts roughly an hour.
Or you can do both and stay for hours. However, you want to structure your visit to the Discovery Center, here are a few pieces of key information that can help.
The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center is located at the new St. Pete Pier, mid-span on the over-water walkway approaching the Pier head.
What It Does
The Discovery Center offers guests a unique opportunity to learn and live the story of the recovery of the Tampa Bay ecosystem. An exhibit-rich gallery of live marine habitats, hands-on interactive displays and video presentations tell the story of Tampa Bay and its recovery and the key role played by Tampa Bay Watch since 1993.
What You’ll Experience
The Discovery Center includes a public Exhibit Gallery showcasing the economic and ecological value of the Tampa Bay estuary to residents and visitors. The focal point is a 1,800-gallon Estuary Habitat that replicates the living habitat of many of the species found in our local waters. The Discovery Center also features an indoor classroom as well as an outdoor “wet” classroom. Guests also engage in interactive displays, video presentations, a touch tank and docent-led tours. Before they leave, visitors will stand underneath a 10’ high wave of plastic, grasp Tampa Bay’s amazing variety of recreational opportunities, and explore ways to become better stewards of the environment.
Admission Prices:
- • Adult (Age 13-61): $8
- • Child (Age 4-12): $3
- • Senior (Age 62+): $5
- • Tampa Bay Watch Members: FREE
- • Child (3 and under with an adult): FREE
- • Active Military: FREE
- • Florida Teachers: FREE
Tickets are available at the Discovery Center.
Benefits of Membership
Tampa Bay Watch members receive unlimited Discovery Center admission, a membership card, bumper decal, our quarterly newsletter The Bay Watch Log, where you’ll read about how your membership supports conservation and restoration efforts around the bay, and a host of other benefits. Our weekly emails and website will keep you up to date on program and event information and opportunities to volunteer. You’ll also get 10% off Tampa Bay Watch merchandise at the Discovery Center. Members also receive discounts and special offers from a wide variety of participating vendors.
Becoming a member of Tampa Bay Watch is easy. Go to www.tbwdiscoverycenter.org and find the link that says JOIN or RENEW TODAY. Just click on this link to join this valued group of environmentally conscious people who understand the importance of a restored Tampa Bay. You can still become a founding member of the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center if you act soon.
________________
Located on the over-water walkway approaching the Pier head, the Discovery Center features roughly 3,000 square feet of indoor space – 2,000 of which are exhibits that tell the story of Tampa Bay’s unique water ecosystem.
tbwdiscoverycenter.org
Contact: 727-867-8166
Email: tbwdiscoverycenterinfo@tampabaywatch.org
Pier Info: StPetePier.org