ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CBS12) — What lies beneath the parking lots at Tropicana Field may soon come to light.
On Thursday, St. Petersburg city leaders unanimously approved $378,896 funding to search for possible unmarked graves surrounding the MLB stadium.
The decision follows multiple radar scans that detected “grave-like anomalies” in a lot beside the Trop, believed to be connected to the long-lost Oaklawn Cemetery. The site is one of several historically Black cemeteries that once occupied the area during segregation, decades before the stadium was built.
The approved archaeological digs will confirm whether the anomalies are indeed graves and help recover any artifacts that may still remain.
See also: Florida Sheriff clarifies: No dolphins kidnapped anyone to build an underwater city
Historical records indicate two additional adjacent cemeteries may also exist beneath the surrounding grounds — a concern raised by Councilman Corey Givens Jr., who says those sites warrant equal attention.
On March 6, 2026, St. Petersburg city leaders approved funding to excavate areas around Tropicana Field after radar scans suggested possible unmarked graves from historic cemeteries, aiming to verify the findings and honor those who may still lie beneath the site. (CNN Newsource)
“This matters as well to descendants,” Givens said. “The rest of us want to make sure that we have done our due diligence to find out if in fact there are remains underneath those grounds.”
City officials say the digs will begin this fall, once baseball season ends and crews can access the area safely.