Nonprofit plans to donate $2M for The Pier, gain naming rights
More name changes are coming to the St. Pete Pier District.
To offset costs of constructing and operating the district, the City of St. Petersburg is raising funds through a naming rights program.
The St. Pete-based Majeed Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the beautification, fine arts, and relief of food insecurity in Tampa Bay, plans to make a $2 million donation to the city for the district.
In recognition of the foundation’s commitment, the St. Pete City Council will vote Thursday on renaming the splash pad and the coastal thicket in honor of the foundation. The coastal thicket is the walkway that runs along the north side of the St. Pete Pier, surrounded by lush, indigenous vegetation.
The new donation and naming rights follow commitments from Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital earlier this year, which allowed the hospital systems to have naming rights on certain assets.
Bayfront is paying $750,000 over five years for naming rights to The Pier’s tilted lawn, while Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is paying $250,000 over five years to put its name on the tram that travels the length of The Pier. Bayfront, acquired last year by Orlando Health, wants to demonstrate continuing support of and commitment to the city, while Johns Hopkins All Children’s views The Pier as a healthy destination for youth, the St. Pete Catalyst previously reported.
The Glazer Vision Foundation was the first to gain naming rights after it made a $1.5 million donation to the city in return for naming rights for what is now the Glazer Family Pier playground.
Under the agreement with the Majeed Foundation, the nonprofit will pay the $2 million to the city in phases over the next 10 years. The name change will be effective for 30 years.
The coastal thicket will be renamed the “Majeed Foundation Coastal Thicket” and the splash pad will be renamed the “Majeed Foundation Splash Pad.”
Jim Donelon
October 15, 2021at4:41 pm
I have a $1000.00. Can I get a blade of grass named in my honor. Lol😜
Ben Lee
October 13, 2021at7:15 pm
Grateful to all who donate to the Pier for good causes.
E. Kenyon
October 13, 2021at4:43 pm
Wasn’t the whole purpose of a new pier was so the City didn’t have to pay $2M a year in operating costs, like they were doing for the old one. Seems like it will be right back where it started in 10 years.
John Kramer
October 13, 2021at3:21 pm
I guess that proves there’s too much money in health care.