With COVID-19 in tact, the City of Clearwater is working very hard to maintain our safety and provide us with necessary city services.

As of March 17th, 2020, the following are as follows:

Cancellations:

• The city’s Operation Shred and Drug Take-Back program previously scheduled for April 25 is cancelled.
• The Pier 60 Bait House is now closed. The fishing pier will be open during normal operating hours today only and will close at 10 p.m. tonight, then it will be closed until further notice. The portion of the pier from Pier 60 concessions to the Bait House will remain open until further notice.
• Clearwater Spring Break camps are cancelled.
• Clearwater’s Arbor Day & Tree Giveaway event previously scheduled for April 25 is cancelled.
• Sunsets at Pier 60 is cancelled until further notice.
• Clearwater Neighborhoods Day scheduled for March 28 is cancelled.
• Blast Friday scheduled for March 27 is cancelled.
• The Sugar Sand Festival, which was previously scheduled for April 10-26, is cancelled.
• The Earth Day Beach Cleanup previously scheduled for April 22 is cancelled.
• Sea Turtle Awareness Day previously scheduled for April 4 is cancelled.
• Ruth Eckerd Hall has suspended its programs through April 2.
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium is closed to the public through at least March 27.

City Meeting Cancellations:

• Red light camera appeals hearings for March 18 is cancelled
• Municipal Code Enforcement Board meeting for March 25 is cancelled
• Downtown Development Board meeting for April 1 is cancelled

Clearwater Beach:

• As of now, Clearwater Beach is open at this time. We aren’t aware of any plans yet to close the beach. However, things could change at any time. Governor Desantis advised everyone to avoid congregating in groups of ten or more at the beach, and they should practice social distancing.

Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs:

• The governor has limited restaurants to 50% occupancy and has asked employers to screen all employees for symptoms in the entire state.
• Bars and nightclubs are closed after 5 p.m. today for 30 days in the entire state.

Libraries & Recreation Centers:

• Libraries
  • Clearwater Public Library System programs will be cancelled through the end of March.
  • All Clearwater library branches are open at this time.
  • The East Community Library @ SPC maintains altered hours, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. through March 17.
  • AARP Tax Help at the Countryside Library is suspended until further notice.
  • SHINE Medicare counseling appointments at the Main and Countryside Libraries are suspended under further notice.
  • The Literacy Council of Upper Pinellas has cancelled all Conversation Classes in Pinellas County for the rest of March including Citizenship Tutoring classes at the East Community Library.
  • The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative’s Deaf Literacy Center has suspended all American Sign Language library classes, until further notice, including children’s sign language classes at the Countryside Library.

• Recreation Centers:
  • Clearwater recreation centers, pools and the McMullen Tennis Complex are open for open play only. All other organized programming led either by city staff, partner agencies, contractors, rentals or volunteers is cancelled or postponed until further notice.
  • All youth and adult sporting activities and programs are suspended effective immediately until further notice.
  • All Spring Break day camps at Clearwater recreation centers are cancelled for the remainder of the week.
  • All tournaments (league and youth programs) and events are canceled through the end of April 2020. Full refunds without processing fees will be provided. Please work with the events supervisor to submit refund paperwork, if applicable. If you would like to reschedule your event, please contact Events & Athletics at (727) 562-4700. The department will evaluate the date change request and work with you to find a date that works for all parties. All rescheduled dates and refund requests are due by April 6.
  • All staff-led recreation programs and classes including swim lessons are cancelled for an unknown period of time.
  • All Aging Well Center programs and those programs targeted toward the senior population (Silver Sneakers and Enhance Fitness®) at Clearwater’s recreation centers are cancelled.

For more information, please visit www.myclearwater.com for updates on COVID-19

Get ready for some racecar fun this spring break weekend! Every year for the past nine consecutive years, St. Petersburg has been hosting the Firestone Grand Prix each March in its downtown location. For this two-day event taking place on March 13-15, 2020, the IndyCar series race will tackle a 14 turn, 1.8-mile waterfront track! 

The race will be circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extend onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport which overlooks the waterfront of Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg harbor.

Downtown St. Petersburg is one of the many locations with culture all around. A walk down the strip of downtown and you will find yourself surrounded by little shops, cafes, restaurants and more. As one of the highest ranked arts destinations in America, you will discover the Dali Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Chihuly Collection. If you are feeling hungry, Beach Drive has many local restaurants that will satisfy your cravings. From fashionable to upscale restaurants, you will find ethnic eateries, and breweries that craft artisanal beers. Downtown St. Petersburg is also known to have live entertainment. If you’re strolling downtown, you will find yourself walking past live jazz music, Spanish music, and venues such as Jannus Live where live concerts are held. There is a little bit of everything in the streets of St. Petersburg.

The Firestone Grand Prix will have onsite food and beverages for purchase. You must present a valid ID for the purchase of alcoholic beverages. You are not allowed to bring in your own food or alcohol on the premises as this will result in being kicked out. Reentry to the event is permitted so if you need to run to the car because you forgot your wallet, you can return to the event with no issues; just make sure to have your ticket with you at all times.

The following items are allowed onto the race grounds but will be subject to inspection: 

• Binoculars and cameras,
• Purses, backpacks and small bags
• Seat cushions,
• Strollers
• Umbrellas (as long as they do not obstruct the view of others)
• Wheelchairs
• Camera stands (tripod, monopods, etc). 
• Small personal handheld devices – cell phones, PDAs, etc.

The following items are prohibited onto the race grounds:

• Coolers
• Folding chairs
• Pets (except service animals)
• Noise Makers, Horns, Helium Balloons, Beach Balls
• Banners
• Camcorders
• Drones
• Laptop
• Large bags

For ticket purchasing, there are two types of tickets: Grandstand and General Admission

• Grandstand tickets:
  • 3-Day/Upper Rows
    •  Adult Ticket $145
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $155
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $110
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $120
  • 1-Day/Upper Rows
    • Adult Ticket $110
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $120
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $85
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $95
  • 3-Day/Lower Rows
    • Adult Ticket $115
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $125
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $80
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $90
  • 1-Day/Lower Rows
    • Adult Ticker $85
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $95
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $60
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $70

• General Admission:
  • 3-Day/Best Value
    • Adult Ticket $60
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $70
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $35
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $45
  • Sunday
    • Adult Ticket $55
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $65
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $30
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $40
  • Saturday
    • Adult Ticket $40
    • Adult Ticket gate Price $50
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $25
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $35
  • Friday
    • Adult Ticket $25
    • Adult Ticket Gate Price $35
    • JR Ticket (12 and under) $25
    • JR Ticket Gate Price $35

Directions to the GrandPrix:

• From the north (Tampa)

• • I-275 south

• • I-175 east via (left) exit 22

• • Keep left onto 5th Avenue S.

• • Track is at 1st Street S. and 5th Avenue S.

• From the north (Clearwater)

• • US-19 south

• • 54th Avenue N. east

• • I-275 south

• • I-175 east via (left) exit 22

• • Keep left onto 5th Avenue S.

• • Track is at 1st Street S. and 5th Avenue S.

• From the south

• • I-275 north (Sunshine Bay Bridge)

• • I-175 east via exit 22

• • Keep left onto 5th Avenue S.

• • Track is at 1st Street S. and 5th Avenue S.

 Gate Hours and locations:

• Friday, March 13 – 7:45 AM to 5:30 PM
• Saturday March 14 – 7:45 AM to 5:30 PM
• Sunday, March 15 – 8:15 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Gate 1 is located at 1st Avenue S. and 1st Street S., and offers on-site ticket sales.
  • Gate 5 is located at 5th Avenue S. and 2nd Street N., and offers on-site ticket sales. Gate 5 also houses the Will Call ticket window.

Parking information:

During the event, there will be street parking and city parking garages. The city parking garage will be charging a $10-all-day event fee on Friday and a $15-all-day fee on Saturday and Sunday.