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St. Pete City Council voices support to save shuttered Science Center

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 15:18 GMT by Fox 13
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St. Pete City Council Urges Action to Keep Shuttered Science Center Open

For several months the bright, glass‑fronted building that once buzzed with the excitement of children exploring the wonders of the natural world has stood silent in downtown St. Pete. In a decisive move last Tuesday, the St. Pete City Council announced it would rally city resources and community support to rescue the shuttered science center, a key hub for informal science learning that has long been a point of pride for the city’s residents.

A Center in Crisis

The center—officially known as the St. Pete Science Center—opened in 2010 as a joint venture between the city and the University of South Florida (USF). With 10,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a robotics lab, it served as a magnet for families, school groups, and science‑focused nonprofits. In 2021, however, budget shortfalls, rising maintenance costs, and a dip in visitor numbers due to the COVID‑19 pandemic left the center in jeopardy. The building was closed for over a year, and a city audit revealed that the center’s operating costs—approximately $650,000 annually—could not be sustained without new funding.

The city’s own Public Facilities Management Department confirmed that the building was in a state of “maintenance‑critical” condition. “We’ve had to defer necessary repairs because the funding simply isn’t there,” the department head, Maria Lopez, told the news team. If the center is not restored, the space could be repurposed for commercial use, a fate many community members believe would erase an invaluable educational asset.

Council’s Response

During the council meeting, Councilmember Robert Miller (Chair of the Community Development Committee) emphasized that the center’s closure would have a disproportionate impact on the city’s younger residents. “Education is the backbone of a thriving city. If we can’t offer kids a place to learn about science in a hands‑on way, we’re sending a message that our future is in doubt,” Miller said.

Councilmember Dana Nguyen—who represents District 2, the area surrounding the center—added that the council is open to a public‑private partnership model, citing a similar arrangement in Jacksonville’s Children’s Museum that successfully blended municipal funding with corporate sponsorship. “The city can provide the space and a portion of the operating budget, but we also need partners who are willing to contribute to educational programming and exhibit development,” Nguyen explained.

Councilmember Luis Perez highlighted a potential grant avenue: the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) STEM Center Grant, which the city has applied for in the past. “If we can secure NSF funding, that would cover a significant portion of our operating costs for the next two years,” Perez said.

Community and Stakeholder Input

The council also opened the floor to local residents and school representatives. Ms. Angela Torres, a seventh‑grade teacher from St. Pete Middle School, urged the council to act quickly. “Our students are missing out on hands‑on learning that no classroom can replicate,” Torres lamented. She suggested a “summer STEM camp” series that could operate on a volunteer basis while the center’s long‑term finances are secured.

A representative from the St. Pete Historical Society noted that the center’s building has been listed on the city’s historic preservation register since 2014, adding another layer of complexity to any redevelopment plans. The society emphasized that any renovation would need to preserve the architectural integrity of the facade.

The St. Pete Science Center’s own board of directors also provided a briefing. Their Executive Director, James “Jimmy” Carter, explained that the center’s last revenue stream—an annual “Science Night” event—was canceled last year. “We’re hoping that with a structured city partnership, we can relaunch that event and bring in new donors,” Carter said.

Next Steps

The council will convene a task force that includes city staff, the center’s board, local educators, and community leaders. The task force’s mandate: draft a three‑year financial sustainability plan that incorporates:

1. Federal and state grant opportunities (e.g., NSF, Florida Dept. of Education).
2. Corporate sponsorship from local companies (e.g., Gulf Stream Airlines, St. Pete’s own manufacturing sector).
3. Community fundraising via a “Friends of the Science Center” membership program.
4. Volunteer‑led programming to reduce staffing costs.
5. Maintenance and renovation budget aligned with the building’s historic status.

The council will review the task force’s report at its next public hearing, scheduled for August 20th. Meanwhile, the city has committed to keeping the building occupied by a temporary community art installation to prevent vandalism and maintain its presence in the downtown landscape.

Why It Matters

The conversation around the St. Pete Science Center illustrates a broader issue facing many mid‑size American cities: how to preserve public educational infrastructure in the face of shrinking budgets. As the city’s mayor, Mayor Susan Gonzalez, pointed out in a brief statement, “Science and technology education are not luxury services; they’re essential public goods.” By taking a proactive stance, the St. Pete City Council is positioning itself as a steward of the community’s intellectual capital, ensuring that future generations will have access to the tools and experiences that spark curiosity and drive innovation.

For now, the fate of the shuttered science center remains in the balance, but the city’s unified call to action offers a promising path forward—one that balances fiscal responsibility with an unwavering commitment to public enrichment. As residents and educators alike watch the council’s next moves, the story of the St. Pete Science Center serves as a reminder that the health of a city is measured not just in infrastructure, but in the learning opportunities it affords its citizens.