The City of St. Pete Beach offers 4.25 miles of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, including two municipal beaches, one located at the north end and one located between 22nd Avenue and the southern tip of the island, another public beach owned by Pinellas County is located at about 46th Avenue. Under Florida law, all beaches, including those privately owned, are open for public access.
In addition, the offers five major parks providing baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and children's play areas. Three of these parks have restroom facilities. The city maintains a gymnasium on the city hall site and a public library, and the city's Leisure Services Division offers a wide variety of recreational programs throughut the year. There are also two public boat ramps in the city. Another 33 mini-parks, ranging from small pocket parks located on otherwise unusable residential properties to small seating areas located on street ends where the city's east/west avenues deadend at the waterfront. Many of these are used for fishing.
The following goals, objectives and policies concerning recreation and open space have been adopted:
GOAL 1
The city shall ensure the provision, protection, and maintenance of a coordinated, efficient and accessible system of public and private recreational parks and facilities which shall meet the needs of the city's current and future residents, visitors, and tourists.
Objective 1.1
The city shall, in cooperation with other governmental agencies, provide and maintain a system of parks and recreation facilities (including beaches and shores) and access to the same, meeting the needs of current and future residents, visitors, and tourists.
Policy 1.1.1
In accordance with the generally recognized standards for recreational facilities, the City of St. Pete Beach shall work to achieve and maintain the following levels of service:
Policy 1.1.2
The city shall encourage the use of bicycles as an alternative means of local transportation and shall provide signs along appropriate designated roadways to warn motorists to share the road with bicycles.
Policy 1.1.3
Park and recreation lands will be planned for multiple uses and located in areas most suitable to satisfy the needs of the permanent and seasonal population, visitors, and tourists.
Policy 1.1.4
Land set aside by new development for recreational purposes shall be determined suitable for that purpose during the site planning process and should not be land which is remaining after development.
Policy 1.1.5
The designation and acquisition of recreation and park sites shall be in accordance with long-range comprehensive plans for city development and redevelopment.
Policy 1.1.6
The city shall ensure that recreation and historic park sites be held inviolate against diversion to other uses.
Policy 1.1.7
The city shall encourage a variety of recreational activities, including the utilization of unique natural features and scenic areas.
Policy 1.1.8
The city shall maintain adequate public access points to all recreation sites including beaches and shores.
Policy 1.1.9
All new development and redevelopment proposalscshall be reviewed under the city's concurrency management system to ensure the level of service standards established in this element shall be maintained.
Objective 1.2
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan the city shall attempt to coordinate public and private recreation resources.
Policy 1.2.1
The city, along with local businesses and development authorities, shall encourage the coordination with local art, cultural and historical organizations in local planning and redevelopment efforts.
Objective 1.3
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, lands designated as Recreation/ Open Space or Preservation will be protected from incompatible land uses.
Policy 1.3.1
The city shall implement land development regulations which include specific open space definitions and standards for landscaping and signs, the protection of open space and natural vegetation, as well as the use of green space for buffering between land uses.
Policy 1.3.2
The city shall encourage the provision of open space areas within private developments.
Policy 1.3.3
Open space in parks shall be maintained to protect and preserve native habitats and provide passive recreation opportunities.
Policy 1.3.4
Open space shall be used to buffer incompatible recreational activities or land uses.
Policy 1.3.5
The City shall protect and maintain natural reservations.
Objective 1.4
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, the city shall continue to be responsive to the needs of both the permanent and seasonal population.
Policy 1.4.1
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, access to park and recreation facilities and services shall be provided for the elderly, handicapped and economically disadvantaged.
Policy 1.4.2
Parking facilities for the handicapped and cyclists shall be provided at parks and other recreation facilities.
Policy 1.4.3
The provision of adequate public beach access shall be considered requisite to any future development or redevelopment. Public access to identified recreation sites shall be maintained and shall be designed to protect the integrity of natural features including, where present, beaches and shores.
Objective 1.5
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, the city shall provide park and recreation facilities in an economically efficient manner.
Policy 1.5.1
The city shall actively pursue funding for park and recreation facilities, including county, state, and federal assistance funds.
Policy 1.5.2
The city shall preserve, maintain, and enhance existing parks and recreation facilities through the use of adequate operating budgets, user fees, and proper management techniques.
Policy 1.5.3
Methods such as tax incentives, impact fees, and density transfers, shall be encouraged for the improvement of city recreation sites.
Policy 1.5.4
The city shall include funds for the maintenance and improvement of its recreation sites in its Capital Improvements Program.