Reopening the St. Petersburg Pier during a pandemic
The construction of the new St. Pete Pier has dealt with many challenges ranging from production delays to finally reopening in the middle of a pandemic.
The new Pier which is known as the “Pier Park” is a complete modernization of the famous St. Petersburg landmark. This $87 million construction project removes the 80s aesthetic of the old pier in favor of an open waterfront park filled with restaurants and retail vendors.
Construction for the current iteration of the Pier began in November 2018. The build was expected to be completed on May 30, 2020, but the pandemic delayed the opening to the following July. The Pier is now open for business, but it has to deal with the harsh reality of an international pandemic.
“Visit St. Pete/Clearwater had an entire campaign around COVID, and the Pier was one of the key partners. It is called Rise to Shine and the program provided signage, buttons for wait staff, additional hand sanitizing stations, etc,” said Jenna Rogers, the Public Relations Account Director for Paradise Advertising & Marketing
Rise to Shine has various rules for the Pier to follow, such as six feet apart social distancing signs, capping elevator usage at only four people at a time, and the installation of 10 sanitizing stations with motion sensors. This is all for minimizing the spread of the virus in the city.
The COVID-19 Event Ordinance is another initiative that impacts business at the St. Pete Pier. The Ordinance is an executive order from the mayor’s office that regulates public events in the city. It enforces the same guidelines that were created by the CDC such as requiring face covering, minimizing public events, and increasing sanitation.
The ordinance however gives the city the power to punish establishments that do not follow these guidelines. These punishments include recalling city permits and fines of up to $500. Multiple violations can even result in a second-degree misdemeanor.
Despite the restrictions, the new Pier has proven to be a popular new addition to the city.
“I think the Pier has created such a welcoming, inviting space. It has been my new go-to date spot or place to bring my family when they come to visit. It really has something for everyone. Since it is mostly outdoors, I feel very safe going there. People seem to be compliant with the mask policies in the restaurants and on the teams that bring you along the Pier. It is great to distance but also to gather safely,” said Julia Gennocro, a mass communications major at USF.
To some Tampa Bay citizens, the new Pier is an intriguing destination of the region but to other residents, it is not as compelling.
“Well, I live in Clearwater so it is a 20 to 25-minute drive and I would rather stay home. It is probably a great place to hang out, but I would rather hang out at home or at the beach. Like, see my friends where it is safer to have my mask off if that makes sense. Also, If I am driving far to go somewhere I would rather go to Tampa because most of my friends are there,” said Isabella Straub, a mass communication major at USF.
“I actually have not been to the St. Pete Pier since they redid it, but I like that they are redoing stuff around the Tampa Bay area. They have done a lot of that in Tampa too,” said Anastacia Jurkowski, a registered nurse.
Despite being completed during the summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new St. Pete Pier is thriving with large yet socially distanced crowds. With vaccine distribution, life might slowly be returning to normal in St. Petersburg.
