Letters to the Editors

Vision creates beautiful, vibrant city

On March 20, the city of St. Petersburg was presented with the Successful Community Award by the highly regarded environmental organization 1000 Friends of Florida. The award was presented to Mayor Rick Baker for St. Petersburg's "strong history of visionary leadership resulting in the successful revitalization of downtown St. Petersburg."

Twenty years ago, St. Petersburg's leaders ended years of slipping into decline. The Vinoy Hotel stood vacant, Maas Brothers Department Store had closed, and there had been no notable new buildings in downtown in the previous 20 years. Today, St. Petersburg is a vibrant city, and the future is even brighter.

Many St. Petersburg leaders and investors can take pride in creating the most beautiful waterfront city in America. Most of the investments in St. Petersburg are from committed residents, investors and developers. What St. Petersburg can proudly claim is that the political and business leadership had a vision and never wavered.

The skeptics wondered if the city's investments in streetscape, purchase of deteriorated buildings and Tropicana Field were sound. Third Street S was in decay from Fifth Avenue S to the old Florida Power Plant. With the investments by the city and private sector, the University of South Florida, Bayfront Medical Center and All Children's Hospital properties where enhanced.

The vision of the political and business leaders was to capitalize on the city's waterfront parks and bring new residents into the inner city. When 1000 Friends of Florida presented the Successful Community Award to Mayor Baker, four visionaries came to mind: Gene Patterson, Jack Lake, Peter Dawson and Andy Hines.

They were instrumental in creating the St. Petersburg Downtown Development Corp. Gene Patterson was chairman and chief executive officer of the St. Petersburg Times and Jack Lake, the publisher. Peter Dawson was a successful dentist who realized the potential for a renaissance downtown. Andy Hines was chairman of Florida Progress Corp.

Patterson and Lake had a vision so broad that the Times pledged $500,000 to the new corporation to jump-start its new role in redeveloping downtown. Dawson saw the future and had the gift to instill his vision and enthusiasm into reality. Dawson developed the Republic Bank Building. Hines developed the beautiful low-rise red brick buildings on the block south of what is now the Bank of America building. He developed the Bank of America building and the building on the east side and moved Florida Progress and Florida Power into the buildings.

The City Planning Department and the continued leadership of the mayors and City Council made sure that St. Petersburg's waterfront parks were protected and enhanced. The improvements to streetscape have transformed downtown into a safe and livable Successful Community, which has become the envy of cities throughout Florida. Time marches on and the stage is set for continued revitalization of St. Petersburg. It will take continued leadership, investments and a commitment based on the vision of those who created the vision 20 years ago.

Thank you, 1000 Friends of Florida, for recognizing and awarding St. Petersburg for its strong history of visionary leadership. Thanks to all who have made this award possible.
-- Donald R. Crane Jr., St. Petersburg

Floridians should make the rules

Re: Nudity has no place at Fort De Soto, letter, April 14.

As a recently relocated, full-time resident of St. Petersburg, I would like to remark that my wife and I love the beautiful Fort De Soto Park and the Tampa Bay area. The beaches, trails, fishing, boating, etc. are nothing less than spectacular.

I take offense at the letter writer's comments. Tourists and visitors are welcome here. Enjoy the beaches and attractions, and please feel free to pump money into "our" economy. But remember that locals are not on vacation. We live here 365 days a year and we visit our beaches and parks all year long.

Tourists are guests in Florida's home. Decisions about usage of beaches, parks or the environment need to be made first by Floridians. I would guess the letter writer would not want Floridians telling her what to decide on local issues.

Guests are always welcome in our home. Please don't become an unwanted one.
-- Tom Dye, St. Petersburg

Water always draws skinny-dippers

Re: Nudity has no place at Fort De Soto, April 14.

The letter writer suggests that a "clothing optional" section of beach, as proposed by the Tampa Area Naturists, would place her in "fear of meeting with unclothed adults, or having to avoid areas where that is acceptable." She is unaware that several areas of Fort De Soto have traditionally been used by nude sunbathers and skinny-dippers, and that the park has adopted costly patrols in attempting to police this.

The TAN proposal is to have a clearly designated, isolated area for such use so that nobody would unexpectedly encounter nude adults and families. Currently there are such areas at Fort De Soto where she might accidentally stumble upon unclothed people.

Wherever there is a body of water, there have always been and always will be skinny-dippers. The TAN proposal hopes to prevent that being a problem.
-- Richard P. Korf, Gulfport

Just keep the kids away

Re: Nudity has no place at Fort De Soto.

Where is it written that everything in our society must be "family friendly"? If nudity at Fort De Soto bothers you that much, why don't you just keep your kids away from the nude beach? There's plenty of standard beach to go around.

Am I the only person here who is bothered by this trend toward a "family friendly" society? If it isn't this area's regulation of swimsuits (no T-backs on public beaches, please) or the Tampa City Council's seemingly endless search for excuses to close down strip clubs (the 6-foot "buffer zone" around the strippers is the latest ludicrous outrage), it's the moralizing, saccharine pap that passes for "family entertainment" on TV.

A normal society has entertainment for both adults and those with children. Responsible parents should restrict their children's access to adult entertainment -- preferably without infringing on the right of mature adults to enjoy it in peace.
-- Elizabeth Hoff, St. Petersburg

Find better answer for intersection

Re: City to improve dangerous junction, April 14.

I have been studying the map accompanying this article and am puzzled. What are the folks to do who want to travel straight through on Old Ridge Road? They are forced to turn right whether they want to or not!

If they are going south, they have to turn onto 102nd and make a U-turn somewhere to get back to Ridge. If they are going north, they are in worse shape; they find themselves on 113th and have to go all the way to Walsingham Road before they can get back to Ridge! This is an improvement?

I agree this is a horrible intersection, but there must be a better way to solve the problem.
-- Rose Kelly, St. Petersburg

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