$13.5M Approved For Pinellas Park Sports Complex; Gov Ignores TaxWatch

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Ignoring a recommendation from the nonprofit, TaxWatch, to deny the budget request, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $13.5 million in funding for a much-neded youth sports complex for underprivileged kids in Pinellas Park.

In announcing the approval of the $13.5 million budget request, the city of Pinellas Park hailed the appropriation as a victory for the community's disadvantaged children.

In its annual report released in early May, Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute, singled the youth sports complex out as one of 166 appropriations that qualified as "budget turkeys" and should be vetoed by DeSantis.

The Florida Legislature approved a $112.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 during the 2022 legislative session, but TaxWatch said it identified $281 million in projects it recommended the governor veto due to concerns about using state dollars to fund local projects.

In a blast on the city of Pinellas Park's Facebook page Thursday afternoon, the city lauded the state legislators who put their support behind the project.

See related story: Preserves, Black Museums, Youth Sport Centers Labeled 'Budget Turkeys'

“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,” Pinellas Park City Manager Bart Diebold said.

“On behalf of the mayor, city council and myself, we are truly thankful for the unwavering support that House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Senate President Wilton Simpson, and chairs, Rep. Jay Trumbull and Sen. Kelli Stargel, provided for this project," Diebold said. "Further, this would not be possible if it wasn’t for our bill sponsors, Rep. Nick DiCeglie and Sen. Jeff Brandes. They have been truly fantastic."

The new youth sports complex will be built on a 37-acre site at 4100 66th Ave.

"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 help 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 would be located just off of U.S. 19 and Interstate 275, providing direct access to recreational amenities for 155,000 youth in Pinellas County.