ST. PETERSBURG — It would be called Last Friday, and organizers of the free, monthly concerts planned for Williams Park believe it would draw more people than ever to the downtown greenspace.
Think of it as the Taste of Pinellas event at Vinoy Park, they say — with a microbrew beer garden, a hand-rolled cigar table and a lineup of area musicians performing from the historic band shell. Under the glow of lights strung from trees, local vendors would sell their wares.
Just don't suggest that the event is about pushing the homeless out of Williams Park.
"I wouldn't describe it as taking back (the park)" said one of the organizers, Kevin Lilly Jr. of the Downtown Bloc, a grass roots marketing group, "because that would mean we gave it up."
Lilly and music promoter Johnny Green said they will encourage visitors to donate funds to Pinellas Hope, which provides temporary shelter on 126th Avenue near 49th Street in Pinellas Park. They will also try to steer dollars to the Abilities Foundation, which supports persons with disabilities, and the Wunsch Family Foundation for children with cancer and chronic blood disorders.
Still in the works, the music project is just one idea that has grown out of the recent interest in reviving Williams Park as a downtown destination. Lilly and Green hope to get the concert series off the ground sometime around the new year.
Leading most of the efforts to revive the park is the Downtown Neighborhood Association, which this year symbolically adopted the park and organized the Friends of Williams Park, a group dedicated to its revitalization.
Williams Park, between First and Second avenues N and Third and Fourth streets, dates to the turn of the 20th century, and in its glory days resembled a town square. In the past decade or so, however, the park has been home to a growing population of homeless people, and, at times, spates of drug activity and crime.
With the city's blessing, park activists have begun pushing to fill the park with activities. They say their efforts are meant to make the park accessible to others.
Last month, the Wednesday Midday Market returned to the square — bigger than before, organizers said. The lunchtime event features 30 vendors selling jewelry, artwork, fresh and prepared food.
On Saturdays, visitors are treated to Art in the Park, which features hands-on activities as well as vendor exhibits, organized by City Council member Leslie Curran, a local gallery owner.
Echoing Lilly and others, Curran said the homeless are less of a problem in the park than those who feed them. City officials suggest giving to social service agencies instead.
Ivanka Ska, a designer who not long ago set up the House of Ska boutique across the street from the park, said helping the park and helping the homeless who congregate there are not different issues.
"This is the park that is named after the founder of our city. His name was John Constantine Williams," said Ska. "If he knew what was going on here, he would turn in his grave."
In a repeat of a similar event last year, Ska is organizing a fashion show in the park. It will take place on Dec. 5, a day that Ska's group, St. Pete Art Beat, has proclaimed Artist Invasion. Ska is looking for donors to make the event permanent.
The following day, Dec. 6, the neighborhood association will host a volunteer cleanup and holiday planting in anticipation of First Night, downtown's New Year's Eve celebration.
By then, the city will have lights on about half of the 30 trees in the park. Made possible through a donation from Progress Energy, the lights are expected to stay on year-round, similar to those at Straub Park.
"The more people who are drawn to the park," said Elanie Bispo Smalling, vice president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, "the more that it does give the appearance that the park is a safe place."
Luis Perez can be reached at Lperez@sptimes.com or 727-892-2271
fast facts
Events at Williams Park
Dec. 5 7 p.m. to midnight
The Artist Invasion show features 20 local artists painting live, 25 vendors selling food and crafts, break dancing and wheelchair dancing competitions, the Jim Morey band in the band shell and Ivanka Ska's fashion show on the grass. Hosted by St. Pete Art Beat.
Dec. 6 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Williams Park Beautification Volunteer Day. Pick up garbage or plant holiday flowers in time for the New Year's bash. Hosted by Friends of Williams Park. Call 727-898-8851 for more information.
Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Art in the Park brings painters, sculptors, glass workers, jewelry artists, potters and others. Hosted by Interior Motives Gallery. Call 898-6061 to participate.
Wednesdays through April, 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
Wednesday Midday Market. The lunchtime market features 30 local vendors selling prepared food and arts and crafts, and music from the band shell.
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