Is Campbell Park safe?
St. Petersburg, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Campbell Park as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Campbell Park
“Go with care. Campbell Park is an active, historically rich community that is generally safe for daytime visits to its recreation facilities, but it requires heightened situational awareness. Visitors should avoid lingering in poorly lit residential corridors or beneath the I-175 overpass after dark.”
City approvals for the multi-billion-dollar Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment adjacent to Campbell Park have prompted heightened municipal focus on neighborhood infrastructure and pedestrian safety.
About the area
Campbell Park is a compact, predominantly residential neighborhood located directly south of Interstate 175 and Tropicana Field in South St. Petersburg. Centered around a large municipal park with extensive athletic facilities, the area bridges historic African-American heritage corridors with ongoing downtown-adjacent redevelopment.
- Residential
- Park-Centric
- Historic
- Transitional
Walking and biking in Campbell Park
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 78/100
Offers easy access to the Pinellas Trail network via neighborhood spurs and dedicated bike lanes along MLK Jr. Street and 16th Street South.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Centrally located municipal park featuring a modern skate park, pool, and sports fields
- Close proximity to the Grand Central and EDGE Districts for dining and entertainment
- Strong local community involvement and ongoing public infrastructure investment
Cons
- Reported violent and property crime rates remain higher than the Pinellas County average
- Above-average poverty rate and lower median household incomes relative to northern St. Petersburg
- Pockets of blight and poorly illuminated walkways near highway underpasses
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately common along Booker Creek, underneath the I-175 overpasses, and near transit corridors heading toward downtown services.
What Campbell Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and quiet as residents commute, school traffic picks up, and morning joggers use the park facilities.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy with youth sports and community center visitors; generally safe for walking and park activities.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down as lighting becomes uneven on secondary residential streets, requiring caution.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet but higher risk for opportunistic crime; walking alone is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Served by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) routes 7, 15, and 32, with the SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station accessible roughly 0.6 miles north along 1st Avenue South.
Ample free surface parking is available at the Campbell Park complex, and street parking along residential avenues is generally free and unmetered.
Things to do in Campbell Park
- Skate the bowls and street course at the Campbell Park Skatepark.
- Walk the shaded trails and sports grounds around the Campbell Park Recreation Center.
- Explore the nearby historic 22nd Street South (The Deuces) cultural corridor.
Local favorites
- Lorene's Fish & Crab House · Seafood Restaurant · 4.5★ (310)Long-running neighborhood staple serving fried fish baskets, blue crabs, and classic Southern sides.
- King's Fried Chicken · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.3★ (340)No-frills counter-service spot famed for crispy fried chicken, tenders, and quick comfort food.
- Heavy's Restaurant Take Out · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.2★ (190)Casual takeaway joint offering hearty portions of traditional soul food staples and ribs.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.