Dunedin considers transforming old city hall to pocket park
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Feb 7, 2023

The city of Dunedin has taken the first step to potentially transform the current city hall site on Main Street into a pocket park.

The city’s new 39,000-square-foot city hall, located at 737 Louden Ave., is expected to open in March. During a work session on Tuesday, commissioners provided input on preliminary design concepts and authorized staff to proceed with the next steps toward demolishing the existing building.

The current city hall, located at 542 Main St., was built in the 1940s, according to records from the property appraiser. The circular building sits at the corner of Main Street and Grant Street.

Due to the age of the building and the city’s determination to save the large trees at the site, Bob Ironsmith, director of economic and housing development, said they will need to rip up a portion of the flooring to “see what’s underneath.” This will determine how easily the slab of the building can be removed. They will also begin building an interim plan for what to do at the site once the demolition is complete.

The current city hall building is “structurally obsolete,” according to Ironsmith. While demolition costs vary, the main concern is ensuring they preserve the trees.

Transforming the site into a pocket park does not currently have funding, so the city will need to allot funds in the next fiscal year’s budget to go forward with that process.

Though still early, several commissioners shared unified thoughts on what to have at the park. Ironsmith said some common suggestions were having assets like bike racks, hydration stations and artistic elements and emphasizing public participation throughout the process.

Some commissioners expressed their desire to see the park activated, though it is significantly smaller than Pioneer Park downtown, which has a stage and is frequently used for events. Ironsmith said the new pocket park would be “limited active,” meaning it could be used for smaller footprint activities. More than likely, it will have elements for leisure and relaxation.

The park may also reuse elements of city hall, like the historic brick, to preserve the site’s history.

In the last few years, Dunedin has become a destination in Pinellas County. Its early activation of the Pinellas Trail and focus on sustained incrementalism have led to a strategized revitalization of its downtown core. Boutiques, pocket parks and restaurants fill the walkable downtown, and approximately half a mile away lies TD Ballpark, which is home to the Toronto Blue Jays for spring training.