YMCA To Join Future St. Pete School Campus: Pinellas County Schools

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The St. Petersburg YMCA and Pinellas County Schools have partnered to build a middle school and YMCA on the 19-acre site of the former Riviera Middle School.

The organizations broke ground Tuesday for the joint campus that will include a 111,757 sq. ft. 2-story building with shared elements to be used by the middle school and YMCA, a Pinellas County Schools news release said.

The middle school will be a health and wellness leadership magnet school for 600 students, school leaders said.

"Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility" is the school's magnet theme, the news release said.

Students and surrounding neighborhoods will have access to the Y's afterschool programs, childcare services, youth sports, fitness activities, aquatic offerings, community health classes and senior wellness programs.

"We are thrilled to be breaking ground on this cutting-edge partnership middle school," said Dr. Michael A. Grego, Superintendent of Pinellas County Schools. "This facility, only the second of its kind in Florida, will provide state-of-the-art learning opportunities in a health and wellness magnet program, creating a seamless path for Pinellas County Schools students."

The name of the new YMCA will be the Speer YMCA, school staff said.

“My family has a personal history with this neighborhood, and we know firsthand that it can be a special place to live and raise a family,” said Lisa Speer Vickers on behalf of the Speer Foundation. “It means a great deal to us that education and wellness are at the heart of this endeavor and that neighbors of all ages will benefit from the excellence in learning and
programming that will be found here every day.”

The YMCA is planned to open by the fourth quarter of 2023, with the school opening at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The school will be named closer to its opening date on 62nd Avenue Northeast, staff said.