April Fool’s Joke Becomes True (Sort of)
April Fool’s Joke Becomes True (Sort of)
May 12, 2025: Last April 1st, I posted news on Tigers jai-alai site about that the Puryear Park Jai-alai court was getting shut down by the City of St. Petersburg, so they could build some more much needed parking spots. Tiger himself was fooled along with several members that play on our court. Some were practically crying. But then a couple of people caught on – one on Tigers site and one in the text group, reminding people that it was April Fools Day. I purposely waited until the late evening to post it, hoping people would forget that date and the fact that my posting had mentioned a city council meeting vote that was taken that evening.
The story was a total bluff, but I did confirm that the city had thought about tearing the court down multiple times in the past. Tom “Corky” DeMint (who worked with Paul Kubala in getting the court approved by the city) had told me people were lobbying to get more parking for the overcrowded park and wanted to jai-alai and racquetball courts demolished to make room for it.
The huge park features two lighted soccer fields, 3 lighted multipurpose fields , 6 lighted tennis courts, several racquetball courts, a multipurpose training facility, restrooms, a concession stand, covered bleachers, a playground and of course the jai-alai cancha. Parking can be a bitch as anyone who has showed up there on Saturday’s or during any soccer tournament where hundreds of people show up.
Well, the problem has been solved. The house directly adjacent behind the cancha has been bought out by the city. The owners had turned down offers in the past to sell, but now with devalued properties from the hurricanes in the area last Fall that resulted in massive flooding, they accepted an offer that was much lower than before. Properties that were flooded lost considerable value and that included most of the houses in the area. In fact, any house that sustained more than 50% of its value. must raise it a full story high, or tear down and rebuild completely – one story above the ground – while making the ground level a parking garage.
After all the proper zoning and land testing is completed, the house will be torn down and the lot will become a parking lot for an undetermined number of cars, easing the parking issues that have plagued the park for the past two decades.
Oh, Tiger, I’m still waiting for my disciplinary action! You can issue it to me while I’m participating in the Magic City Tournament this September – if they approve a 70-year-old to play in it.
