FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Parks Department, (727) 893-7335
Studio@620, (727) 895-6620

ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR MODEL
POWERBOATS HELPS ENHANCE EXHIBIT 

St. Petersburg, Fla. (December 7, 2007) - At  Thursday’s City Council meeting, members amended section 21-60 of the City Code relating to the operation of radio controlled model power- boats. The revision effectively increases the number of lakes in the city where electric, low noise radio controlled motor boats can be operated from two to thirteen.

 In reviewing the request, the city’s Parks Department discovered that many improvements and innovations had been made to the industry making the model powerboats less of an impact on the lakes and the surrounding areas.

 This action was taken, in part, as the result of a request by the directors of Studio@620 as an enhancement of “The Water is Wide” exhibit at the popular arts venue located at 620 First Avenue South. The exhibit, which runs through December 15, aims to generate awareness of the heritage of boats and the art of boat building while enriching our community’s understanding of the boat industry’s impact upon our local history and culture. As part of the activities planned in conjunction with the exhibit, some model boat builders have been crafting boats and will now be able to run them on nearby Mirror Lake. The exhibit also features hand made crafts, both old and new made with the latest technology, art, drawings, models, and miscellaneous artifacts.

 As a result of the recent amendment, radio controlled model powerboats on city-owned water bodies are prohibited except on the following water bodies on the days and the hours indicated:

 Ruby Lake (between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday only)
Woodlawn Lake (during normal park hours)
Lake Maggiore in Lake Maggiore Park
Lake Eli in Lake Maggiore Park

 The operation of electric, low noise radio-controlled model powerboats shall be permitted on city-owned water bodies in the following parks during normal park hours:

 Booker Creek Park
Bartlett Park
Childs Park
Eagle Crest Lake Park
Fossil Park
Lake Vista Park
Mirror Lake Park
Sheffield Lake Park
Simons Lake Park
Viking Lake in Meadowlawn Park
Walter Fuller Park

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ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG
Marketing Department
727-893-7465 / marketing@stpete.org