St. Petersburg is now one of 23 Florida cities to earn a Trail Town designation, which officials believe will help increase tourism, access to grants and, ultimately, connectivity.<\/p>\n
City officials celebrated the recognition from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection\u2019s Office of Greenways and Trails at a Jan. 15 council meeting. The program launched in 2018 to showcase communities with significant trail investments.<\/p>\n
In a subsequent announcement, Mayor Ken Welch called the designation a \u201ctestament to what we\u2019ve known all along \u2014 St. Pete is a vibrant community where residents and visitors can enjoy our thoughtfully-designed trails, active transportation, arts and culture community and local businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of the work our city team and our community partners did to secure this designation, and for their ongoing efforts in making St. Pete one of the best places to live and visit,\u201d Welch said in a prepared statement.<\/p>\n
According to the state, a Trail Town is a \u201cvibrant destination where people come together.\u201d The program also denotes a place \u201cwhere trail users can venture off a hiking, biking, equestrian or paddling trail to enjoy the amenities and unique heritage of the community, benefitting the town economically and socially.\u201d<\/p>\n
Transportation manager Cheryl Stacks told City Council members that St. Petersburg began seeking recognition for investments along the Pinellas Trail last year. She said the designation would provide an opportunity to work more closely with the FDEP and other honorees to boost ecotourism.<\/p>\n
Stacks added that \u201cthis could assist us in several grant pursuits, especially at the state level.\u201d That funding would allow officials to continue making significant investments in all city trails.<\/p>\n
The FDEP typically requires larger cities to identify a specific designation area, Stacks explained. City documents state that \u201cwhile almost all of St. Petersburg has access to trails, the section of the Pinellas Trail that runs through the Greater Arts District has the largest impact\u201d on surrounding neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
The 3-mile area encompasses the Warehouse Arts, EDGE, Central Arts and Waterfront Arts Districts. Stacks noted that FDEP staff toured the trail with local stakeholders in late November.<\/p>\n
St. Petersburg\u2019s proposal received unanimous approval from the Florida Greenways and Trails Council following a Dec. 17 presentation. Highlighted amenities include wayfinding signage, emergency markers, trail courtesy reminders, restaurants, bicycle shops and other adjacent retail offerings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did note that there are limited public restrooms and Wi-Fi, but that\u2019s where the partnerships with adjacent businesses really kind of come into play,\u201d Stacks said. She also noted that each of the four subdistricts is \u201creally important to contributing to a great experience for trail users.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe honed in on identifying arts districts, because there really is this kind of symbiotic relationship that exists between the arts and the trails,\u201d Stacks added.<\/p>\n
The former rail corridor that became the Pinellas Trail runs through the heart of the Warehouse Arts District. The recognized section runs east to the downtown waterfront and Demens Landing, the terminus for the state\u2019s Coast-to-Coast and Florida Gulf Coast Trails.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Pinellas Trail is also used for transportation purposes to link different iconic local events, including Localtopia,\u201d Stacks said. \u201cThe Saturday Morning Market is directly adjacent to the Pinellas Trail. We can\u2019t possibly have enough bike parking that serves that event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stacks credited several area businesses and organizations for supporting efforts to secure the designation. Those include the Sunline Coalition, a community-led nonprofit dedicated to improving connectivity, enhancing green space and activating community spaces.<\/p>\n
The organization advocates for trail-oriented development, with the Underline in Miami and Beltline in Atlanta serving as models for success. Sunline\u2019s leadership made the initial request for Trail Town designation on behalf of the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Sunline, we believe the trail is more than a path \u2014 it\u2019s a place,\u201d said chairperson Tara Hubbard. \u201cOne that connects people, nature and art, supports local economies and invites stewardship at every step. We\u2019re grateful to be part of a vision that puts people and place at the center.\u201d<\/p>\n
The state will now provide St. Petersburg with Trail Town visitor \u201cpassports,\u201d signage and stickers. Stacks said the city would partner with tourism agencies to promote the new designation, and staff will participate in quarterly Trail Town Alliance meetings.<\/p>\n
She also noted that the city will host the next Florida Greenways and Trails Council meeting in April. Officials are also working to secure permits that would allow additional access points along the Pinellas Trail, and an FDOT grant will help fund those efforts.<\/p>\n
St. Pete Distillery, Foodie Labs, Daddy Kool Records, Vertical Ventures, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Friends of Trails Crossing were among the businesses and organizations to pledge their support. Stacks said she would continue reaching out to other stakeholders, such as the Saturday Shoppes.<\/p>\n
Council member Corey Givens Jr. said the designation would help support small and minority-owned businesses. \u201cI think about the economic benefits,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think about the health and wellness benefits, and then also the transportation benefits,\u201d Givens continued. \u201cIt\u2019s an overall public health win.\u201d<\/p>\n