\u200bClearwater-based Porter Development<\/a> has long sought to create a multi-use recreation destination in Pinellas County that combines athletics, wellness and family-friendly amenities. President Les Porter called the redevelopment a \u201cmajor win for the community\u201d that he believes will garner \u201coverwhelming support.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cOur goal is to create a meaningful neighborhood hub where people can gather, stay active and enjoy the outdoors,\u201d Porter said in a prepared statement. \u201cOur community has been asking for more green space to support an active lifestyle, and we\u2019re thrilled to see this vision become a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200bThe 105-page proposal notes that two regional sports complexes have successfully attracted major events but required over $100 million in public funding to develop and ongoing subsidies to sustain operations. Porter will rely on private investments to deliver \u201ccomparable \u2013 and potentially greater \u2013 economic outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200bProjected financial benefits include a $566 million economic impact, $26 million in tax revenue, and over $500 million in direct visitor spending over the first decade. The proposal also highlights how The Landings, one of three golf courses, provides an ideal location.<\/p>\n \u200bSunshine Recreational and Entertainment, a limited liability corporation led by Porter, will lease, redevelop, manage and operate the property at 1875 Airport Drive. The site is near St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and a short distance from Clearwater Beach.<\/p>\n The Landings golf course opened in 1970. Photo: Golf Book.<\/p>\n \u200bThe proposal also notes the property\u2019s proximity to Tampa International Airport and how the Clearwater Executive Airport and an industrial area will serve as a buffer between the complex and surrounding neighborhoods. \u201cGentle grading and minimal environmental constraints make the site far easier and more cost-effective to redevelop than Clearwater Country Club or Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club,\u201d it states.<\/p>\n \u200bThe development would feature 11 synthetic turf and two natural grass fields, each with lighting and covered spectator seating. Porter plans to offer enhanced food and beverage options that will \u201celevate\u201d the viewing experience beyond typical concessions.<\/p>\n \u200bA pickleball complex would provide 14 covered courts in an \u201cupscale atmosphere that combines competitive sports with social experiences. Complimentary outdoor activities include golf simulators and casual recreation spaces.<\/p>\n \u200bA water park will \u201cserve as a unique amenity that differentiates the project from regional competitors,\u201d states the proposal. The Sports and Performance Center will offer yoga, boot camps, CrossFit and Pilates, with a running and biking trail encircling the property.<\/p>\n \u200bThe Wellness Zone will feature recovery amenities, including hot and cold mineral-infused pools. County Commissioner Kathleen Peters called the plans \u201cincredible\u201d and \u201cspectacular\u201d at a Dec. 11 workshop<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200bPorter is now tweaking those plans as the city requested some modifications to his unsolicited proposal. He pitched a similar project<\/a>, ultimately rejected by voters, atop a former Largo landfill in 2022.<\/p>\n \u200bRudie was adamant that the latest proposal would not require a referendum, as the property is already zoned for recreational uses. \u201cSuch a partnership would leverage private-sector expertise, innovation and capital to deliver a high-quality facility while minimizing public risk and maximizing public benefit,\u201d it reads.<\/p>\n \u200bAn announcement notes that Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment, established in 2021 to develop community-focused facilities, \u201cis composed primarily of local professionals who understand the unique needs and opportunities of the Clearwater area.\u201d Those include the team at Sport Facilities Companies, which the county selected to help transform the former Toytown landfill into an athletic complex<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200bIn 2021, Porter proposed a 150,000-square-foot sports complex with a lagoon-style pool<\/a> at the environmentally-challenged former Raytheon site in west St. Petersburg. Those plans also unraveled and he is now building Azalea Gateway, a multifamily development that will eventually boast over 1,000 units, at 501 72nd St. N.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Landings-Golf-Book.jpeg\")
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