BY: D’Ann Lawrence White, Patch.com, March 6, 2023

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Pinellas Park began advertising on March 5 for bids for a design firm to develop plans for a much-anticipated regional youth sports complex that will provide sports opportunities for thousands of underprivileged youngsters in Pinellas County.

Last year, the Florida Legislature, with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ approval, awarded the county $13.5 million to fund the sports complex, which will be built on a 39-acre site at 4100 66th Ave. owned by the city of Pinellas Park, just off of U.S. 19 and Interstate 275,

“We also are extremely grateful to Gov. Ron DeSantis for seeing the value in this project and approving the funding for what will truly level the playing field for all aspiring young athletes to make their dreams come true,” said Pinellas Park City Manager Bart Diebold, who also thanked the bill’s sponsors, state Rep. Nick DiCeglie and Sen. Jeff Brandes.

“The city’s vision for the youth park sports complex is to provide a state-of-the-art, centrally located youth sports complex that will have a regional impact on underserved and underprivileged youth and will offer little to no-cost premium athletic opportunities to young Pinellas County residents without the cost burden associated with many of today’s travel and competitive sports programs,” Diebold said. “The benefits of this project will have far-reaching positive impacts on local youth, as well as surrounding businesses and the community at large.”

The $13.5 million will be used to design the new facility that will include football fields and other sports amenities and will serve the youth of Pinellas Park and nearby Lealman, which is designated by Pinellas County as an underserved community.

The city will need another $25 million to build the sports complex.

The multi-faceted youth sports complex will provide direct access to recreational amenities for 155,000 youth in Pinellas County.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting will take place March 28 and all bid packages are due by April 6.

For more information on the bid process, contact Gary Moskaluk at 727-369-5711.

VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Source: Patch.com
https://patch.com/florida/pinellasbeaches/bids-open-design-regional-youth-sports-complex-pinellas-park