St. Pete Pier gets a big upgrade Lisa Elia St. Petersburg on Florida’s west coast features world-class museums, a homegrown arts scene, a Major League Baseball team and a cherished public waterfront — and it recently added another beautiful, breezy place to play. The newest version of a 131-year-old city tradition, the landmark St. Pete Pier, received a $92 million overhaul and opened this summer. The 26-acre site features an outdoor marketplace; new parks, pathways and playgrounds; a learning center about Tampa Bay’s ecosystem; plenty of art; and the new five-story Pier Head building at the tip of the quay. There’s also a fishing pier, two restaurants and a rooftop bar overlooking the water.