PINELLAS PARK – The Florida Redevelopment Association has recognized Pinellas Park for its visionary work on the Sprowls Horizon Sports Park.
Members of the Pinellas Park Community Development team accepted the Roy F. Kennedy Award from the association on Oct. 16 at the Hilton West Palm Beach Hotel.
The award was for the Creative Project Funding and Development Partnership category. Sprowls Horizon Sports Park was a transformative project that blends recreation, sports tourism, economic development and community enrichment.
In partnership with Sports Facilities Companies, the city designed a one-of-a-kind regional sports destination featuring six youth baseball turf fields modeled after Major League Baseball Spring Training stadiums (Braves, Cardinals, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox and Yankees), a multipurpose turf field, outdoor hockey rink and playground.
There will also be a central plaza with a merchandise stand, elevated ballpark concessions and a tiki hut for specialty beverages.
The baseball fields will also accommodate softball and host year-round travel tournaments, competitions, and community events.
The city collaborated with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to ensure the park meets stringent ecological standards and partnered with Duke Energy to address the complex’s energy infrastructure needs.
The project’s financial foundation includes $13.5 million in state funding and contributions from multiple partners, including a $100,000 donation from the Tampa Bay Lightning to build and brand the outdoor hockey rink. The overall cost of this project is $26.5 million.
“The development of Sprowls Horizon Sports Park serves as a strategic solution to address underutilization and deterioration of the City’s existing park,” said Nick Colona, administrator of Pinellas Park Community Development. “This project will act as a catalyst for economic and social enrichment in Pinellas Park, aligning community needs with state-level goals such as promoting youth engagement, improving public health and boosting regional tourism.”
Sprowls Horizon Sports Park will open in February 2026 and will be located at 4015 62nd Ave. N., Pinellas Park.
