Joe’s Creek Greenway Park will become Raymond H. Neri Park in honor of the Lealman activist who envisioned the park and lobbied for his community. In case of bad weather, the event will be moved indoors.

LEALMAN – The Pinellas County Commission is inviting citizens to attend the renaming of Joe’s Creek Greenway Park to Raymond H. Neri Community Park.

The even is scheduled for 10 a.m. today (Oct. 27). The park renaming and sign unveiling ceremony will take place at the north end of the park on Duval Park Boulevard. Attendees can access the park’s north entrance via 54th Avenue N., near the Lealman Community Center, 5175 45th Ave. N in Lealman. In case of bad weather, the event will be moved indoors to the community center.

The event is free and open to the public. To attend, please RSVP here.

Unofficially called by some the “Mayor of Lealman,” Mr. Neri championed economic development, youth programs and quality of life opportunities for the residents of the Lealman community.  He died in 2017, leaving behind a legacy of accomplishments such as the Pinellas Sheriff’s Police Athletic League Center in Lealman, community participation in the Adopt-a-Block initiative and the park’s opening, among others.

Once an overgrown patch of 38 acres of land, the now-renamed park was transformed into a sanctuary for visitors and wildlife alike through a series of phased improvements starting in 2005. The park’s transformation is also a testament to Mr. Neri’s dedication; he originally proposed the idea to the county in his role as president of the Lealman Community Association.

His words were captured in a 2014 interview with county staff: “This park is a little gem in the heart of Lealman that people should take advantage of.”

Lealman (pronounced Lell-man) is an unincorporated area generally located between Pinellas Park on the north and St. Petersburg on the south. It extends from just east of I-275 to Park Street. It is divided into east and west Lealman by Kenneth City.

For information and photos of the park, go to the Friends of Raymond H. Neri Community Park.

Photo of county staff changing sign courtesy of M.R. Wilson and the Friends of Raymond H. Neri Community Park.

Lealman | Ray Neri | Events | Parks | Tampabay News

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