Photos: At Park's Corner, a Community Apart

Rot, 20, originally from California, has been squatting for four years now. Dressed in a kilt and without a shirt, he watches the Fourth of July crowd disperse.

Eric, 15, and Tara, 14, steal a kiss away from the tree, as Mike, 14, who was dropped off by his sister, looks on.

Eric and Mike, 16, wait for friends to arrive at the banyan tree. They usually congregate on the weekends. The fourth, a sunday, was slow, compared to the weekend.

Eric, 19, and Jamie, 16, watch the fireworks July 4, from inside the tree. Eric, who still lives at home, is not in school at the moment. Jamie will be a sophomore next year.

Liz, 18, holds out flowers made of palm reeds, which she hpoed to sell to tourists in town for the fire works at The Pier. She has been on the streets since April.

David, 17, walks on the banyan tree as the sun sets. David comes to hang out at the tree every weekend.

Mac, 21, squats all around St. Petersburg. On the night of July 5, he took refuge in the banyan tree on the corner of Second Avenue N and First Street S.