![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jungle-Prada-Pier-2-1024x641.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere has been a wooden pedestrian pier at the end of Elbow Lane in west St. Petersburg since 1921.<\/p>\n
The walkway, adjacent to a public boat ramp, has been rebuilt, refurbished, fortified and modified numerous times over the decades (most recently in 2007). The otherwise sturdy structure on Boca Ciega Bay was no match for Hurricane Helene\u2019s storm surge in 2024, however.<\/p>\n
Neighborhood residents are wondering what\u2019s going to happen to the approximately 100-foot pier, which was a popular spot for sunset-watching, and for viewing fireworks over the distant beaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still closed, which to me and the neighborhood associations is not a problem,\u201d said John Hoke, president of the Jungle Terrace Civic Association. \u201cWe just want a timeline and a resolution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we started asking the City about it, they said \u2018It\u2019s going to be rebuilt, but it\u2019s going to be smaller.\u2019 And that can be anything from a smaller pier to basically a small observation deck at the end of the grass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Juliana Fisher, president of the Jungle Prada Neighborhood Association, \u201cI would rather them not do anything until we\u2019re all in agreement on what needs to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councilmember Copley Gerdes has been advocating for a path forward.\u00a0 \u201cThe pier,\u201d he explained, \u201chas always been a priority. I spoke with Community Enrichment Director Mike Jefferis the day after the storm, and the two of us have been working on the project ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Engineers have determined that the pier, as it exists, is unsafe.<\/p>\n
Engineers have determined that the pier, as it exists, is unsafe. At Thursday\u2019s City Council meeting, a vote will be taken on whether or not to allocate the $1.8 million necessary to demolish it. Permits have been secured.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll go into discernment of what the next iteration of the pier will be,\u201d Gerdes said. \u201cAnd how much money do we want to spend? What will it look like? How far out do we want it to go?\u201d<\/p>\n
An early estimate for rebuilding was in the neighborhood of $5M.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge, as is often the case, is funding,\u201d said Gerdes. \u201cWhere is that money coming from? Where are we moving it from? It\u2019s almost certainly replacing another project. The Parks & Rec CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) is already stretched to the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve asked to be part of the conversations and the decision points on the pier,\u201d Hoke explained. \u201cIf funding\u2019s the problem, how much is coming from FEMA? Can they take private donations?<\/p>\n
\u201cCould we consider monetizing this boat ramp?\u201d he asked, \u201cbecause it\u2019s St. Pete\u2019s last remaining free boat ramp.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neighborhood leaders are scheduled to meet May 5 with Gerdes and Jefferis.<\/p>\n
There will be a period for public comment before Thursday\u2019s vote. Fisher intends to be there to advocate. \u201cIt\u2019s not even just people from the west side of St. Pete,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople come from Seminole, they come from Gulfport. I\u2019ve had people come from Tierra Verde. It is the only over-water access on the west side. And we all know the sun sets in the west, so it\u2019s very busy and very well used at sunset hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerdes, who grew up going to the pier, said he knows firsthand its value to the district.\u00a0 \u201cIf it weren\u2019t a priority, we would tear it down and be done with it. But we\u2019re doing to the work to figure out what we want to build, and what we can build.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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