UGLY MUST CERTAINLY BE IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Tampa Bay, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog

Which one of these looks the most inviting to you?

It doesn't really matter much at this point. 

What this does show is what you get when the artsy and the politicians get in room with a large bag full of your money and little or no input from the general public.

If you are thinking about dropping by here are the details:

The new St. Pete Pier and Pier District will open Monday, July 6 at 5:00 P.M.

The wait is over. It’s time to exPIERience the new St. Pete Pier

In order to facilitate social distancing and open ‘The St. Pete Way’, reservations are required for opening week.

Tickets will be issued for Monday, July 6 at 5:00 PM through Sunday, July 12 at 8:00 PM. To reserve your complimentary tickets, visit the City of St. Petersburg Pier website at StPetePier.org, navigate to the events page, and follow the directions listed. There,you can select the day and time you would like to have your exPIERience.

It is the City of St. Petersburg's goal to provide a safe and entertaining exPIERience for all. We have limited reservations daily, so planning ahead is encouraged. Proof of a complimentary reservation by either phone or a printed document is required. The reservation will be processed through a touch-less scanning upon entry.

Parking Information:

On Monday, July 6th only, parking at the Dolphin and Pelican parking lots via 2nd Avenue/ Marina Way will be closed to the general public. Recommended parking for the pier's opening day is the Sundial Garage located at 117 2nd Street North. The St. Peterburg Looper Trolley (LooperTrolley.com) will also be in operation with a convenient stop near the St. Pete Pier. Drop-offs and rideshare will be at Beach Drive and 2nd Ave. NE, while those with handicap placards will be allowed through the Bayshore Drive closure checkpoint.

Starting on Tuesday, July 7th, parking will be available at the Dolphin and Pelican parking lots until full, with overflow parking at the Sundial Garage. Parking can be paid at any of the 13 “Pay Stations” located throughout the parking lots for $2/hr for the first 4 hours and then a graduated rate for the next 2 hours. There is a 6-hour max parking available in the lots. Credit cards, cash and the ParkMobile platform can be used to pay for parking. To pay for parking along Marina Way, visitors can pay the smart meters with a credit card or coins. ParkMobile is also accepted by selecting Zone 2005 on the ParkMobile App via a smartphone. The rate is $2/hr for the first 3 hours and then a graduated rate for the 4th hour. Alternative modes of transportation include the trolley and the Bike Share located throughout downtown St. Petersburg.

Safety Measures:

The Center for Disease Control and the City of St. Petersburg recommend wearing a mask or cloth face covering when social distancing is not possible. We encourage visitors to the pier to wear a mask whether indoors or outdoors; however, local directives require masks to be worn when inside places of public assembly, such as restaurants. This will be enforced within the St. Pete Pier District.

For latest Pier news and tickets for opening week, visit stpetepier,org

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures:

Please comment below.