Lassing Park’s shoreline is the epicenter of a multi-year Living Shoreline Restoration Project spearheaded by Tampa Bay Watch (TBW) and the City of St Petersburg Parks Department. On November 9th, 2022 TBW, OSE and other volunteers bagged and installed 10 tons of oyster shell bags to fill in a new protective reef.
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved in this project, including upcoming volunteer opportunities on December 14th and 15th, 2022. The 14th is pretty well covered (more OSE neighbors welcome) but there are open spots for the 15th, please click here to register.
Shoreline Improvements
This multi-year TBW project will mitigate severe erosion on the north end of Lassing Park due to wave and wake action. (Lassing Park is the only downtown waterfront park to enjoy a natural shoreline, i.e., no seawalls.) Positive effects are already apparent, as sand and vegetation begin to backfill the oyster balls and oyster shell reefs, reinforced by the rapidly growing cordgrass. By restoring lost habitat to promote new oyster growth, the project improves water quality and provides rich food sources and habitat for diverse aquatic species.