Activating the Pinellas Trail: A Call to Action for Businesses and the Community

Once or twice a month, I hop on my bike to ride to work along the Pinellas Trail. As I pedal past murals, parks, and back walls of businesses, I find myself thinking and dreaming about what this trail could become. The ride gives me time to reflect on its potential to connect our neighborhoods, support local businesses, and bring people together. These rides inspired me to put my dreams on paper and call for action to transform the Pinellas Trail into something greater for St. Petersburg.

A Vision for the Pinellas Trail

The Pinellas Trail already serves as a valuable asset for cyclists, walkers, and runners, but its role in our community could be so much more. Other cities have shown how trails like ours can become engines of economic growth and community connection. Atlanta’s BeltLine, for example, turned an abandoned rail corridor into a 22-mile trail that connects neighborhoods, supports businesses, and draws millions of visitors each year. The BeltLine has generated over $7 billion in private investment, proving that collaboration between businesses and local organizations can lead to incredible success.

The BeltLine teaches us that trails can be more than paths—they can become destinations. Restaurants and shops reoriented their storefronts to face the trail, public art brought vibrancy and culture, and transportation options like electric trams connected neighborhoods in new ways. This success didn’t happen overnight, but it began with a community-led vision, something that is entirely possible here in St. Petersburg.

Why St. Petersburg Needs This

The Pinellas Trail runs through some of our city’s most iconic areas, including the Warehouse Arts District, where businesses like Foodie Labs are already using the trail as a gateway for events. These efforts are promising, but there’s a much larger opportunity to create a cohesive experience along the trail that benefits residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

Instead of the back walls of buildings lining the trail, we could have storefronts, patios, and gathering spaces that invite trail users to stop, explore, and engage. Public art, shaded seating, and small markets could bring life to underutilized stretches of the trail. Transportation solutions like electric trams could help connect the trail to popular districts, allowing people to explore St. Petersburg in a fun and sustainable way.

These changes wouldn’t just benefit businesses—they’d build stronger connections between our neighborhoods, attract visitors, and create a unique identity for St. Petersburg.

The Role of the Chamber of Commerce

Making this vision a reality will require collaboration, and one of the strongest partners we have is the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber consistently works to improve the city and support businesses, making it the perfect organization to lead this effort. By rallying local businesses and advocating for trail-focused developments, the Chamber could help turn the Pinellas Trail into a centerpiece of our community.

The Chamber’s ability to connect businesses, coordinate initiatives, and promote public-private partnerships makes it an ideal partner. Together with local businesses and community leaders, the Chamber could advocate for changes like reorienting storefronts to face the trail, hosting events that bring people to the trail, and developing transportation options to improve access.

Securing Grants for a Better Trail

A vision of this scale requires funding, and grants should be a central part of the plan. Federal programs like the Transportation Alternatives Program and state grants for green infrastructure could fund safety improvements, landscaping, lighting, and transportation projects. Additionally, private grants for art, culture, and sustainability could provide resources for public art installations and community events along the trail.

The Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local businesses, could lead the charge in identifying and securing these grants. By showing how trail activation will drive economic growth and improve community well-being, we can make a compelling case for investment in the trail’s future.

A Call to Action

When I ride my bike to work and dream about what the Pinellas Trail could become, I imagine a space that reflects the best of St. Petersburg—a space that connects us, supports our local businesses, and brings our neighborhoods closer together. But none of this will happen unless we take the first step.

This vision can start with us—business owners, community leaders, and residents—working together to make the trail a true asset for our city. By taking initiative, we can inspire the city to join the effort, just as other communities have done with their own trails. Together, we can create something that benefits everyone and reflects the values and creativity of St. Petersburg.

The Pinellas Trail is more than a path. It’s an opportunity. Let’s make the most of it.