West St. Pete neighbors are scrambling to save the wooden Jungle Prada Pier after the St. Petersburg City Council voted yesterday to tear down the storm-damaged structure and restore the shoreline. The pier, a longtime go-to for anglers, sunset watchers and nearby restaurant traffic, has been fenced off since Hurricane Helene left it battered and unsafe.
Yesterday, the council signed off on demolishing the aging walkway and spending public money on site restoration. A city spokesperson told reporters that a proposal for a new fishing pier will be brought to the council later for approval, according to Tampa Bay 28. That timeline has not calmed neighbors, who have been pushing for either a full rebuild or a like-for-like replacement rather than a shorter, scaled-down version.
“It has been an integral piece of West St. Pete’s fabric,” Jungle Prada Neighborhood Association president Juliana Fisher told neighbors, arguing that the pier drew visitors who then spent money at local businesses. Resident Jaymi Wiesner, who says she honored her late father with visits to the wooden walkway, called the loss “heartfelt” and urged officials to rebuild, according to Tampa Bay 28. Stories like theirs have become the emotional backbone of the campaign to preserve the pier’s length and laid-back character.
Neighbors push for a like-for-like rebuild
Neighborhood groups are rallying around a clear demand: replace the pier at its original length and keep its wooden look and feel that locals say suit fishing, quiet walks and everyday sunsets. Anything smaller, they argue, would feel like a downgrade for a neighborhood icon…