State awards St. Pete $2 million for Shore Acres stormwater improvements

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Shore Acres will receive a new stormwater pump station and upgraded drainage infrastructure after the City of St. Petersburg secured a $2 million state appropriation for flood mitigation projects in one of the city's most flood-prone neighborhoods.

The funding, included in Florida's Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, will support the Shore Acres Denver Street Storm Damage Improvements project.

Sponsored by Senator Nick DiCeglie and Representative Lindsay Cross, the project will improve the capacity of the stormwater system to move water through the area along Denver Street NE between North Dakota Avenue NE and Pennsylvania Avenue NE.

The work includes upsizing portions of the stormwater system and installing a new pump station to reduce surface flooding and improve drainage during major storm events.

The total project is estimated to cost $8.7 million. The state appropriation will cover $2 million, with the remaining cost funded through local sources.

Construction is expected to be completed by October 30th, 2028.

City officials said the state appropriation will accelerate the project under the city's St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) initiative, allowing construction to begin earlier than originally planned.

DiCeglie said the funding was prompted by the repeated flooding and storm damage Shore Acres experienced during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Shore Acres, home to roughly 2,500 residences, was among the neighborhoods hardest hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Nearly two years later, many homes remain under repair, while some homeowners opted to sell rather than rebuild.

According to the city, the improvements will reduce flooding for more than 350 properties served by the system while providing greater protection for homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.

"Strengthening our infrastructure and neighborhoods continues to be a top priority for my administration as we recover and prepare for future storm seasons," Mayor Ken Welch said in a statement.

"The city will use this funding to improve stormwater flows, protect homes, and keep our residents safe during wet weather events in the Shore Acres area," he continued, thanking DiCeglie, Cross, and the Florida Legislature for their support.

The project also advances recommendations in the city's Stormwater Master Plan, its long-term strategy for modernizing aging stormwater infrastructure.