The opening of the St. Pete Pier has been delayed.
The pier was scheduled for a grand opening on May 30, but St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said Tuesday he is following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suggestion that large crowds not gather during the month of May.
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“We also believe it’s not a good idea to gather our community in such a celebratory way on May 30,” Kriseman said. “There’s just too much uncertainty to plan such a gathering, and it’s simply in the best interest in public health and safety to wait just a bit longer."
Tuesday's announcement came on the same day Pinellas County commissioners voted to reopen beaches and pools.
Kriseman said he made the decision following a meeting with members of the task force that will assist in forming a plan to re-open the city’s economy.
Kriseman said a new date has yet to be determined, but said the wait “won’t be too much longer.”
The opening of the $92 million project has been delayed twice before. It was originally slated to open in 2018 and then delayed until December 2019.
Among the pier’s features are a Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, restaurants including Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille, 17 vendors in the Pier’s marketplace, a $1 million playground, and Janet Echelman’s $1.47 million “Bending Arc” sculpture.
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