Car-Free Conversations with Domenico and Saumitra and guest John Barkett
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In this episode of Car Free Conversations, hosts Domenico and Saumitra sit down with John Barkett, founder of Barkett Realty, to talk about transformative, people-centered projects reshaping St. Petersburg—without the use of cars.
🌿 Trails Crossing Project
John shares the vision behind Trails Crossing, a 12.5-acre cultural park planned beneath I-275 that will reconnect neighborhoods long divided by highways. The project aims to safely activate the Pinellas Trail, link districts like Kenwood, Grand Central, Uptown, the Edge District, the Warehouse Arts District, and South St. Pete, and turn fenced, underused land into vibrant public space.
Expect shaded walkways, public art, sculpture gardens, amphitheater space, safer crossings, and community gathering areas—all designed with public input.
📍 Get Involved
The public is invited to review early concepts and share feedback:
🗓 January 29 | ⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 Barack Obama Library
🌐 https://trailsx.org
🏘️ The Looking Glass Initiative (South St. Pete)
John also dives into the Looking Glass Initiative, a long-term effort to revitalize the MLK South corridor without displacement. The project includes:
Renovation of historic retail spaces
A community center (former American Legion building)
An urban teaching garden
A food pharmacy and healthcare partnerships focused on “food as medicine”
Safer streets, including push-button crosswalks and advocacy for two-way traffic on MLK
The initiative emphasizes mutual aid over charity, community-led planning, and scalable solutions to address food insecurity, health disparities, and mobility gaps—especially for residents without cars.
🚦 Why Two-Way Streets Matter
John explains how converting MLK from one-way to two-way traffic can slow cars, improve safety, support local businesses, and reconnect neighborhoods that have been treated as pass-throughs rather than places.
This episode highlights what thoughtful, community-rooted development can look like—prioritizing safety, access, culture, and dignity over speed and short-term profit.
📻 Listen & Stay Connected
🎧 More episodes: found in the Radio St Pete podcast archive
🤝 Connect Pinellas: https://connectpinellas.org
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#FoodIsMedicine #CommunityLed #EquitableDevelopment
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