Lakewood Connector Community Mural
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Communities Unite to Create the Lakewood Connector Community Mural— A 400-Foot Mural Celebrating Nature, Neighborhood, and Connection
Community-led public art project transforms the Lakewood Trail Connector into a vibrant community gateway.
St. Petersburg, FL — Vitale Bros, All The World's Kids, Connect Pinellas, and Lakewood Estates Civic Association, in partnership with the private property owner Oak Park Villas, today announced the Lakewood Connector Community Mural, a 400-foot, 7-foot-tall mural celebrating nature, neighborhood, and connection along the long neglected Lakewood Trail Connector.
Inspired by the neighboring Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, outdoor adventure, and native landscapes, the mural unites people, place, and the natural environment through a single, continuous visual story. The work is designed to create a vibrant gateway along the trail connector, fostering pride, connection, and environmental appreciation for generations to come. The grand-reveal of the mural will be on Friday, August 14th at 3:30 p.m until 5:30 p.m., with a celebration at the mural site, where children from neighboring Maximo Elementary School will join in on completing the final stages of the mural. The community is welcome to come out and help celebrate the new mural, which residents hope will help activate the Lakewood Trail Connector, the only pedestrian-only connection across I-275 between 31st St. South and US 19, a community asset that is often overlooked and has fallen into neglect. City Council Members Figgs-Sanders, Givens, and Floyd will be in attendance.
The mural is the work of a featured artist collaboration team:
John Vitale, Founder of Vitale Bros and Overspray Art Space, who has spent more than three decades creating large-scale murals and public art that transform communities and inspire connection through creativity.
Derek Donnelly, known as Saint Paint, who is a St. Petersburg-based muralist with more than 15 years of experience creating bold, story-driven artwork that highlights Florida's culture, history, and natural beauty.
Dream Weaver, a multidisciplinary artist, who explores the relationship between people and the natural world through color, light, movement, and immersive storytelling.
SIO, a multidisciplinary artist, who works across murals, canvas painting, and mixed-media printmaking, blending landscape, portraiture, and contemporary styles with a deep connection to place and community.
Join us on August 14th, at the trail connection, just north of Oak Park Villas, 4701 31st St. South, St. Petersburg. Community members are encouraged to park at the 31st Street South Sports Complex.
About Vitale Bros
The Vitale Bros. are prolific muralists based in St. Petersburg, FL. Since 1992, they’ve painted walls throughout Tampa Bay and have had a major hand in St. Petersburg becoming a world-class arts destination. Learn more: https://vitalebrothers.com/about/
About All The World's Kids
All The World’s Kids Inc., is a local nonprofit based in the heart of St. Petersburg offering art, mentorship and travel programs for Future Leaders ages 8-17. Established in 2024, ATWK is on a mission to raise and engage youth who positively impact their communities and the communities they serve. To learn more please visit alltheworldskidsinc.org
About Connect Pinellas
Connect Pinellas is a Florida not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting public transit and people-focused walking and cycling initiatives across Pinellas County. Learn more at connectpinellas.org.
About Lakewood Estates Civic Association
The Association’s mission revolves around property and community in Lakewood Estates. The group strives to maintain our way of life, the neighborly, almost woodsy atmosphere of quiet streets around a well-kept golf course, and our property values. To this end the Civic Association focuses primarily on zoning, both within and on our borders, and beautification, while the Neighborhood Watch addresses crime, code violations, and the safety of our residents. Learn more: https://www.lakewoodstpete.com/