St. Petersburg Moves Forward with Turning Unused Railroad Tracks into Walking Trail

The city council unanimously approved purchasing the property to create a new downtown walking and biking trail.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The City of St. Petersburg, Florida is moving forward with a project to turn unused railroad tracks downtown into a new walking and biking trail. The city was able to negotiate the purchase price down from $88 million to $7 million, with $4 million of the project being funded by a 99-year lease with a local business owner who will build on top of the tracks. The city council unanimously approved the property purchase, and the project will now undergo environmental assessments before being finalized.

Why it matters

This project represents an effort by the city to transform unused infrastructure into a new public amenity that can spur economic development and provide alternative transportation options for residents and visitors. By creating a new walking and biking trail, the city hopes to attract more foot traffic and business activity to the downtown area, which has historically struggled with parking and accessibility issues.

The details

The new trail will run from 5th Avenue North to 1st Avenue South, utilizing the stretch of unused railroad property that the city has been working to acquire since 2019. Local business owner Mark Ferguson, who owns Ferg's Sports Bar, has agreed to a 99-year lease with the city that will provide $4 million in funding for the project, as his establishment is built on top of the railroad tracks. Ferguson believes the new trail will help drive more foot traffic and business to the area, as visitors will be able to access shops and restaurants without the hassle of finding parking downtown.

  • The city started trying to buy the railroad property in 2019.
  • The city council unanimously approved the property purchase at their last meeting.

The players

Corey Givens

A St. Petersburg city councilman who expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating that it will benefit both current and future generations.

Mark Ferguson

The owner of Ferg's Sports Bar, who has agreed to a 99-year lease with the city that will provide $4 million in funding for the project, as his establishment is built on top of the railroad tracks.

Richie Floyd

A St. Petersburg city councilman who expressed interest in expanding the project's scope in the future to include more than just a walking and biking trail.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't something that just we are going to enjoy but this is something that future generations will get to reap the rewards of.”

— Corey Givens, City Councilman

“Anywhere they have a lot of trails, you just see big developments happening. You see warehouses turning into hubs for entertainment, for apartments, for retail.”

— Mark Ferguson, Owner, Ferg's Sports Bar

“I look forward to expanding any sort of opportunity like this for trails, alternative means of transportation. I'm thinking even bigger in the future — more than just a place that you can ride your bike, but I'll settle for that right now.”

— Richie Floyd, City Councilman

What’s next

The project will now undergo environmental assessments before the deal is finalized.

The takeaway

This project represents St. Petersburg's efforts to transform unused infrastructure into a new public amenity that can spur economic development and provide alternative transportation options for residents and visitors. By creating a new walking and biking trail, the city hopes to attract more foot traffic and business activity to the downtown area, which has historically struggled with parking and accessibility issues.