By Tom Nguyen
There is more to community than just convenience stores and shopping plazas, more to paradise than just a destination.
When Bill Prasd decided to move his family from Southern California to the Pink Streets area 15 years ago, he had the simple life in mind. "Southern California was too crowded, the intensity of life was much more pronounced," he said.
The Pink Streets neighborhood is nearly 3,000 miles away from Southern California, tucked away in St. Petersburg south of Pinellas Point Drive from 10th to 22nd streets South. The houses range in architectural design, from two-story Dutch colonials to one-story modern masonries, and along with the local residents, there are raccoons, Black Racer snakes and owls sharing the area.
"I was really lucky when I found this place," Prasd, 50, said, "because there were no arrows pointing to it."
No arrows, indeed. No cineplex, no nightclubs and no roller coasters. In fact, to find a local SUV dealership, a four-star restaurant or even an ice cream parlor requires not just patience but a trip beyond the neighborhood. "It's 70 blocks from here to downtown St. Petersburg, 70 blocks to get a decent meal," said Natalie Roberts, 71, who moved from Citrus County into the neighborhood in 2002. "I really want a good Italian restaurant nearby. Someplace where it's not just spaghetti and meatballs, but something authentic."
"Man, this area sucks," said Walt Redmond, 51, standing behind the counter at the Mobil gas station on 54th Avenue South and 31st Street. "There ain't nothin' here to do."
Redmond has been working in the neighborhood for the past 17 years, and, according to him, its most blaring weakness is the lack of recreation.
"This place is mostly residential," he said. "The only recreation around here is Maximo Park.…You can take a stroll there if you want to—but that's it."
Despite the lack of restaurants and entertainment nearby, residents maintain they have something priceless: peace of mind.
"It's an inconvenience, but it's not a major problem," said Marvin Cox, a resident for the past six years who runs a real estate agency with his wife, Maren Cox. "Potential homeowners aren't really put off by it. They appreciate the quiet, the lack of traffic down here."
Cox said although there are some businesses that local residents wished they had within their immediate grasp, such as an ice cream parlor and barbershop, their basic needs are being met locally. "We just got a new Beef O'Brady's that opened up."
The Beef O'Brady's Family Sports Pub, at 4775 34th St. S., opened its doors two months ago and so far business has been good. When asked whether his restaurant was the most popular in the area, Franc Urso, co-owner of the pub, answered, "We're the only spot! There's a bunch of fast-food spots in the area, but we're the only sit-down, full-service place."
They only serve food in baskets: sandwiches, salads and—their most popular fare—buffalo wings. But their greatest attraction, according to Urso, is the family friendly atmosphere. "Mom and dad can just let the kids run around, instead of making 'em sit quietly at the table," Urso said. "I love this neighborhood. It's the best-kept secret. The franchise required us to have at least 30,000 people in a 5-mile radius; we've got 165,000."
Add to the new sports pub a handful of grocery stores, gas stations, banks, churches and "Pinknics," and a community starts to take shape.
The Pink Streets neighborhood, as the name might suggest, is unique for its pink-tinted streets and curbs, a community design that manages to reach out and connect every home.
Prasd explained that Pinknics are neighborhood events, held twice a year, and can attract up to hundreds of local residents. The event is usually held at an empty, waterfront lot in the neighborhood. "Everybody in the neighborhood comes and brings food and drinks," he said. "And hangs out for a couple of hours."
Maren Cox organizes the Pinknics—once in October and then in April—so that neighbors can visit with one another while getting a chance to meet residents new to the community.
"The best thing about this neighborhood is the people," said Roberts, who retired from the cattle industry in Citrus County. "The sense of community here is great. People really talk to each other; we all know each other. Not a lot of places to go around here, but I enjoy the people. They make the experience worth it."
"At the end of the day," Prasd said. "If you don't know where you're going, then why work so hard?"
He tells a story about a neighbor who almost died in a car crash last year. The family was distraught but the neighborhood came together to support them, from visiting the hospital to tending their front lawn.
"If you made a list of what you wanted at the end of the day, then this is where you want to end up," he said.
It is mostly quiet in Prasd's neighborhood. It's late in the afternoon, almost near the end of the day. The sky still glows with promises while the air is thick with gummy sweat. The humdrum rhythm of life—birds chirping and the occasional SUV whooshing by—is temporarily drowned out by the steady motorized groan from a lawnmower being pushed up and down and across a front yard.