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Space under I-375 to become parking lot, mural destination

Veronica Brezina

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Councilmember Gina Driscoll (centered), John Barkett of Barkett Realty (right side with a child), and the team cutting a ribbon in front of the park site under Interstate 375. Image: Barkett Realty.

The city council has recently approved funding for a new 45-space parking lot to be built outside the Historic Uptown neighborhood, under Interstate 375.

The new paved lot is part of a broader plan to connect neighborhoods in St. Petersburg by converting underutilized land.

Barkett Realty, headed by owner John Barkett, is leading the project of the new parking lot that will be downlit in the evenings and is a component of the entire I-375 park.

“Future projects will include continuing to wrap the actual park to the south and create an attractive entrance along 4th Avenue North while taking down the remaining construction fencing, some of which has been there for decades,” Barkett announced in its February newsletter.

The park includes a dog-friendly green space area.

Visitors and residents can park at the site while attending art fairs, indie markets, food truck rallies, community block parties and other events, as it provides a shaded lot.

Additionally, the Florida Department of Transportation has preliminarily agreed to allow public art murals under I-375 that will be downlit at night both on the west side of Martin Luther King (MLK) Street along the smooth concrete walls of the overpass as well as along the east side of MLK North on the seven columns lining the pedestrian sidewalk.

“These newly lit and colorful backdrops will be visible as visitors enter our city from this major offramp, and also provide safety and connectivity at night for pedestrians travelling the corridor on foot or by bicycle or scooter,” Barkett wrote.

RELATED: Plans to transform I-275 underpasses move forward

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Avatar

    Ray Baker

    February 2, 2023at2:02 pm

    The “construction fencing” was left there to prevent the space from becoming a homeless camp. As a former property owner nearby, I hope there is a plan to keep this area safe and clean.

  2. Avatar

    Tony Wagner

    February 2, 2023at11:33 am

    This is fantastic news! I love seeing our city grow!

  3. Avatar

    J . Kurt Petersen

    February 1, 2023at5:28 pm

    Wonderful project. Love the creative thought process that went into this project… and the impactful use of public space. Kudos to John Barkett!

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