St. Petersburg is breaking ground on a $1.25 million skate park. It will be nestled into the existing Campbell Park near Tropicana field. The plans took years to pass and changed a few times before getting approved.
"The skate park is just under 30,000-square-feet so it will be the largest skate park in Florida," said Mike Jefferis, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of St. Petersburg.
The city says the money going towards the park is coming from a fund that is required to be spent on recreational projects.
"If it has to go to something of that sort or something of that nature I say why not, you know?" said Jefferis.
Darrian Skinner, a camp counselor, says he and his group of kids come to St. Pete's Campbell Park a lot during the summer. He thinks an added skate park would be something new and exciting for kids in a low income area.
"Most of the kids around here maybe know much about football, may know much about basketball and things of that sort but I feel like bringing in a skate park that gives kids a variety of things to do physically," he said.
It won't cost you a thing to get in and the city says non-profits are willing to help mentor kids interested in learning how to skate. The city also hopes the hotel nearby will attract professional skating tournaments and overnight guests.
St. Petersburg says the design and layout will eliminate blind spots which it hopes will curb any potential crime.
