News Summary
The Florida Department of Transportation has rejected St. Petersburg’s request to keep several murals on roadways, triggering community protests. These murals celebrate local culture and diversity, including Pride and Black history themes. The removal order, stemming from a law aimed at eliminating political content in public spaces, is set for September 4, 2023. Despite FDOT’s safety concerns, local data shows murals have led to a significant decrease in road crashes. The city has pledged to support public art amid the growing backlash against this decision.
St. Petersburg – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has denied the City of St. Petersburg’s request to retain several murals painted on roadways, sparking considerable community backlash. The murals, which include designs celebrating Pride, Black history, and local culture, are to be removed by September 4, 2023, under orders from state transportation officials.
The FDOT’s decision came after the city sent a letter requesting to keep five specific artistic pieces, a request made on Wednesday. However, the department communicated its denial to city officials late Friday, leading to immediate protests from residents and local businesses who emphasize the importance of these artworks to the community.
The impetus for the FDOT’s decision lies in a law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in June, known as Senate Bill 1662. This legislation aims to eliminate political ideologies from state transportation facilities, which the FDOT interprets as a mandate to remove “non-standard surface markings,” including artistic murals. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue stated that such markings could distract drivers or confuse pedestrians, posing potential safety risks.
Despite these assertions, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch argues that data shows the murals do not compromise safety. A thorough three-year before-and-after crash study conducted at an intersection on Central Avenue, where the first mural was installed, reveals a significant 70% decrease in overall crashes. In contrast, adjacent intersections that lacked the murals experienced crash increases of 100% and 25%, respectively.
The murals in question include vibrant pieces located at Central Avenue and 5th Street, Central Avenue and 25th Street, 6th Avenue South and 2nd Street South, 9th Avenue South and 22nd Lane South, and 11th Avenue South and 46th Street South. Among them are artwork celebrating diversity and important local narratives, such as a Pride rainbow mural and a Black History Matters mural located outside the Woodson African American History Museum. The city proposed to keep these murals intact while suggesting modifications for one project that extended into the crosswalk area.
The backlash against the removal order has been palpable. Local business manager Alex Gomez expressed concerns that the decision seems specifically targeted, and pledged to seek alternative support for the LGBTQ community if the murals are taken down. Community members have organized protests and urged city council representatives to resist the removal orders. Some residents even suggested recreating the murals using sidewalk chalk, indicating strong community ties to the artwork.
Moreover, the FDOT’s mandate carries significant implications for state funding, as failure to comply with the removal order may jeopardize financial support for the city. While the FDOT will handle the physical removal of the artworks, the costs will fall to St. Petersburg’s budget—adding further strain to local resources.
In addition to the immediate challenge of the mural removals, the St. Petersburg City Council is expected to convene in an upcoming meeting to discuss future plans for street art and how to navigate the ramifications of the FDOT’s ruling. However, it remains unclear how the agenda will evolve in light of the recent developments.
Mayor Welch has reiterated the city’s commitment to fostering artistic expression as a vital aspect of community identity, underscoring the value such artworks bring to St. Petersburg despite the upcoming changes. Community sentiment remains strong, and it is anticipated that conversations and actions in support of public art will continue as the deadline approaches.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 13 News
- Wikipedia: St. Petersburg, Florida
- WTSP News
- Google Search: St. Petersburg street mural removal
- Florida Politics
- Encyclopedia Britannica: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Fox 13 News – Save St. Pete Street Murals
- Google News: Florida Department of Transportation street mural
- WFLA News
- Google Scholar: street mural removal Florida
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
