$17 Million Grant To Provide Flood Protection In Joe's Creek Watershed

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Pinellas County has been awarded a grant of more than $17 million by the state of Florida for the Joe’s Creek Greenway Restoration Project.

The project aims to reduce flood risks and increase community resilience in the Joe’s Creek Watershed, a 9,256-acre area that includes portions of the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area, the town of Kenneth City and the cities of Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg.

The project combines two major community improvements:

1. Restoration of Joe’s Creek and the surrounding green space, including channel stabilization for improved stormwater capacity, water quality enhancements and a multi-use trail.

2. Reducing property owners’ flood risks and encouraging economic development.

“With this grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Pinellas County looks to bring new life to the Joe’s Creek corridor by improving flood resilience and improving water quality while encouraging safe multimodal transportation and creating economic opportunities for our residents and the business community,” said Kelli Hammer Levy, director of Pinellas County Public Works.

To complement the grant project, Pinellas County plans to fund additional flood prevention work in the watershed including a regional stormwater facility, culvert restoration, upgrades to erosion control, the addition of dry retention areas, and improvements to stormwater management and natural ecosystems in Lealman and Kenneth City featuring green infrastructure and complete streets.

Following the grant award, next steps include the design phase and permit acquisition for the project.