Ray Neri Park began with residents asking Pinellas County to make room for their neighborhood. Today, the 38-acre park beside Joe’s Creek has playgrounds, places to exercise and a paved loop for people who simply want to get outside.
The rebuilt park opened Feb. 7, 2026, according to the county’s opening announcement. But its history reaches back more than two decades, through residents’ organizing, gradual construction and repeated discussions about what Lealman needed.
Its namesake was part of that effort. Raymond H. Neri was a longtime Lealman resident and community organizer who kept pressing officials for better services and places for children to play. He led the Lealman Community Association and served on the Juvenile Welfare Board, Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and Lealman’s redevelopment advisory board, according to Anne Lindberg’s reporting after his death.
Neri died Jan. 3, 2017. The recollections published that day describe someone whose persistence could wear on elected officials, but whose work they respected.
“Ray was a character who could drive you nuts but you never minded,” Charlie Justice, then a county commissioner, said in Lindberg’s report.
Neri’s own words describe his frustration with the pace of government. Discussing Lealman’s redevelopment plan in 2016, he welcomed progress while questioning how long residents had to wait.
“It just takes time. I hate that it takes time,” Neri said, according to Florida Politics.
The county’s 2018 renaming record credits Neri with helping establish both Joe’s Creek Greenway Park and the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area. County commissioners approved the change to Raymond H. Neri Community Park on Oct. 9, 2018. The county now lists it as Raymond H. Neri Park.
The park itself grew in stages. Residents began lobbying around 2000 to turn undeveloped land along the creek into a park, according to Tampa Bay Times reporting republished by Lealman Exchange. The county bought 38 acres and established Joe’s Creek Greenway Park in 2005.
A county history timeline shows what came next. The first phase provided 2,315 feet of pedestrian trail, a bridge, parking and educational displays. Another 1,785 feet of trail, observation decks and a restroom followed in 2008.
More trail opened in 2011. A second pedestrian bridge completed the loop in 2013, along with an access trail to Duval Street. The park people walk today was assembled over years.
Residents also kept asking for more to do there. In the county’s 2017 public-input results, a dog park received the largest share of responses, followed by walking and running, then playgrounds and play areas. Events and natural shade were among the other requests.
The later rebuild did not include everything once proposed. A 2019 concept included an amphitheater and an observation tower. Paul Cozzie, the county’s parks director, told the Tampa Bay Times in 2024 that the earlier concept was too expensive, and the county concentrated on amenities sought by the most people. That reporting also described expansion plans losing momentum during the Great Recession.
The money eventually came from several public sources. The county’s 2024 construction award record listed a $10.181 million project budget and an $8,469,352 construction bid from Gibbs & Register. The construction bid covered only part of the overall project budget. Neither figure should be treated as a verified final cost.
Funding included federal American Rescue Plan Act money, the Penny for Pinellas sales tax and a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant administered through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The county held the groundbreaking on May 21, 2024.
The grant carries a public-use obligation. A September 2026 county agenda item sought the paperwork needed for $1,185,182 in reimbursement. It described a requirement to preserve the grant-assisted site for outdoor public recreation, with replacement obligations if it were converted to an unapproved use.
For a visit, use the current address, 4300 Duval Park Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33714. The mailing address says St. Petersburg, but the park is in unincorporated Lealman and is operated by Pinellas County. Older records use 4303 46th Ave. N.
The county’s current park listing describes a one-mile paved multipurpose loop crossing two bridges over Joe’s Creek. Facilities include inclusive playgrounds, fitness equipment, an open multipurpose field, restrooms and drinking fountains. There are nine picnic shelters and three observation shelters.
The 2026 park map also identifies a challenge course and butterfly garden, along with pedestrian and vehicle gates. Download it before a first visit to locate facilities and entrances. Families using wheelchairs or other mobility aids should ask parks staff about any specific access needs or temporary route closures.
The dog park has separate areas for small and large dogs. The county’s opening announcement said those facilities were still coming, but its current park page and dog-park directory now list them among the amenities.
Dogs must be leashed outside the designated dog-park areas. Owners must supervise them and pick up their waste. County dog-park rules require current licensing and vaccinations, prohibit puppies younger than four months, and limit each handler to three dogs. Food is prohibited inside the fenced dog areas.
The water is for watching. Fishing and swimming are prohibited at Neri Park. The county reports birds, turtles, alligators and otters among its wildlife. County rules prohibit feeding or disturbing animals.
For a picnic or birthday gathering, check shelter availability and any fees with parks staff before sending invitations. The public information reviewed for this guide does not establish Neri-specific shelter reservation terms or prices.
Some county park rules are easy to overlook when planning a party. Alcohol and balloons are prohibited, as are confetti and aerosol string. Follow the posted age guidance on playground and exercise equipment. Park only in designated spaces, and check with the county before arranging vendors or a special event.
The park also hosts community gatherings. Lealman Nights advertises food trucks, local vendors and an outdoor movie on the second Saturday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. Its event listing identifies extra parking at Lealman Exchange. Check the organizer’s calendar for the date and weather changes before heading over. Advertised evening events have their own schedules.
Ordinary park hours are 7 a.m. to sunset. The annual closures are the day after Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Check the county’s park updates for temporary closures or maintenance before visiting.
Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources handles park questions and maintenance concerns at 727-582-2100.