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Stroll to get Lealman on a better roll
By ANNE LINDBERG © St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2001 LEALMAN -- If the doorbell rings, don't assume it's the Avon lady. Community volunteers are canvassing some Lealman neighborhoods to talk about garbage service, street lights and the like. They'll make note of well-maintained properties as well as those that need help. The walking tour, involving members of the Lealman Community Center and the Pinellas County departments of planning and community development, is one of the first steps in developing a revitalization plan for Lealman. Information gathered will be used to apply for federal funding. "The ultimate objective is to make Lealman a nicer place to live," said Frank Bowman, a senior development specialist with the county. Revitalization has a great chance to succeed here, Bowman said, because residents have united and asked the county for help. Lealman is a portion of unincorporated Pinellas County roughly between Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg. Its eastern boundary begins around Interstate 275 and extends as far west as Park Street. Kenneth City splits the area into west Lealman and east Lealman. Revitalization efforts will focus on the eastern area, and that section has been divided into three parts, Bowman said. The central portion of that tract is considered the neediest. A community meeting in November identified some shortcomings: the need for recreation for kids, sidewalks, and better drainage. Bowman warned against focusing only on those long-term issues as people might lose interest when nothing happens immediately. Hence, volunteers are looking for some improvements that can be made quickly. One such problem is street lights, Bowman said, so volunteers will ask neighbors to sign petitions to have street lights installed. Another quick fix could be a different method of garbage collection, Bowman said. There is no organized pickup in the county's unincorporated areas. Garbage cans may always be on the streets waiting for different pickup days and times. Additionally, there is no pickup for brush and discarded furniture, which tends to clutter yards until owners get around to hauling the stuff away. The community association wants to negotiate a contract that would set a schedule of garbage pickup and include a weekly pickup of loose trash. If enough people sign up for the service, the community association figures it can secure lower garbage rates. If you're interestedIf you would like to become involved or would like more information, the next planning team meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at Lealman United Methodist Church, 4090 58th Ave. N. Or call Ray Neri, president of the Lealman Community Association, at 527-5352; Frank Bowman, Pinellas County Community Development, at 464-8255; or Armanda Lampley, Pinellas County Planning Department, at 464-4751.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
