Park expansion adds green space to Harbordale

Fifty-five-hundred square feet may be smaller than the lot of an average home, but for the residents of Harbordale, a neighborhood on St. Petersburg’s South Side, it’s enough to open up a whole new world.

That beginning was celebrated Friday as Mayor Ken Welch and City officials including Council Chair Copley Gerdes, Councilmember Gina Driscoll and former Councilmember Robert Blackmon opened the expansion of Harbordale Park. The expansion was the result of the City’s purchase of a derelict property blocking nearly the entire frontage of the park along East Harbor Road. 

Now, the park is fully accessible directly from the sidewalk and faces the local school, Arqam Academy. 

Imam Mounir Bourkiza from the adjoining Islamic Society of St. Petersburg was on hand to offer an opening blessing, as were a delegation of schoolchildren dressed in the garb of their potential future careers.

“I grew up just a half mile away from here. This [park] is still on my bike ride,” said Welch after the ribbon-cutting. “You can talk about the impact of that building – it was not a welcoming space. A lot of bad activity happened here.”

In his remarks, Welch noted that the park expansion was consistent with the principles of CPTED, or Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. With a building in front of the park, both the park’s entrance and visibility into it was blocked, leading to its use for inappropriate and criminal activity. With the building removed, the space is more open, more visible – and more safe. 

“Every neighborhood should have access to this kind of park green space environment – not just the downtown waterfront,” he declared.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch (center), members of the City Council, dignitaries and residents celebrated the re-opening of Harbordale Park Friday.

“This makes the third park that I have been able to acquire or expand in St. Petersburg since I’ve been on Council,” said Councilmember Gina Driscoll, who represents Harbordale. Gesturing at the saplings planted in the newly-opened space, she observed, “If you look at the littles who have joined us today, this is why. By the time they grow up and become chefs and doctors and mayors, the trees behind us will be much larger.

“Now that you have a park that’s safer and more beautiful, you can imagine having an Easter Egg hunt here for the neighborhood … We’re planning a family fun day, and I think that’s going to kick off a tradition of excellent programs and fun activities for families here in Harbordale.”

For the community members present, the excitement was palpable.

“I watched my children play while sitting on this bench, and look forward to the day when I see other new families come to this park and play,” said Harbordale Neighborhood Association President Angel Torrens. “It’s about investing in our families and restoring our connection to nature.

“Parks are the soul of St. Petersburg, and Harbordale is no exception.”

Driscoll and several other speakers highlighted the role Blackmon played in the park’s expansion. The former councilmember recently completed the restoration of Harbordale’s historic Standard Oil gas station – it’s now the site of Pete’s Bagels, which contributed food to the event.

“The neighborhood in general is one of our earlier neighborhoods,” said Blackmon. “It was platted in the 1910s and it was on the streetcar line. It’s great to see its history being at the forefront of its future.”

The project led him to spend a great deal of time in the area, which led him to Harbordale Park. There he could see the impact of so much of the park’s entrance being blocked. When the adjoining property was listed for sale, Blackmon alerted Driscoll and City officials and advocated for its purchase for the park. 

The rest is now history.

Since the park abuts Salt Creek, Blackmon noted, its expansion served the neighborhood not just through beautification but resiliency: The increase in permeable soil will mitigate potential flooding in the event of a storm.

“It’s a huge win for Harbordale,” he said, “and a huge win for South St. Pete.”