About Ideal Digital Agency

Since 1998, Ideal Digital Agency has helped businesses make smarter digital marketing decisions through candid advice, practical strategies, and honest conversations about what actually makes sense…and what doesn’t. Based here in Clearwater.

The FREE Google Business Verification Checklist was created to help business owners better understand the verification process before they start guessing, submitting video after video, or spending money they may not need to spend.

Know a business owner dealing with Google Business Profile verification?

Please forward them this edition of My Clearwater Scoop. It might save them a whole lot of frustration, and possibly some money.

or

Learn about Ideal Digital Agency’s other services HERE →

Let's work together. Learn MORE →

One proposed complex would redevelop a former landfill near highways and commercial properties. The other would replace Clearwater's 77-acre Landings Golf Course, next to residential neighborhoods. And with Pinellas County closing schools amid declining enrollment, how much additional youth sports infrastructure does the region need?

Two major sports complexes are being proposed in Pinellas County.

Both promise opportunities for youth sports, family recreation, tournaments, and economic activity.

However, there's one enormous difference.

One would bring new recreational uses to a former landfill. The other would replace 77 acres of existing Clearwater recreational green space.

Once that 77 acres is substantially redeveloped, returning it to what it was could be difficult, expensive, or impossible. Let’s cut the B.S. IT WILL BE GONE!!!

That distinction deserves attention following Clearwater City Council's 4–0 vote Wednesday, October 14, to advance negotiations for a sports and entertainment complex at The Landings Golf Course.

My Clearwater Scoop attended the meeting and participated in public comments.

One issue raised during the meeting was the separate Toytown Sports Complex proposal near St. Petersburg.

It raises questions about whether two large sports destinations are necessary in the same county, particularly when the local school district is adjusting to a declining school-age population.

There's another important detail: The Landings also has a history as a landfill site. The difference is what exists on the properties today. Toytown is being considered for redevelopment, while The Landings is already an established 77-acre golf course providing green space alongside residential neighborhoods.

Toytown is a former landfill near Interstate 275 and Roosevelt Boulevard that Pinellas County has been exploring for redevelopment.

According to FOX 13, a preliminary proposal from Sports Facilities Companies included:

The preliminary project carried an estimated investment of $150 million to $200 million, with projected economic benefits from tournaments and tourism.

The overall Toytown property encompasses approximately 275 acres, compared with 77 acres at The Landings.

However, the entire Toytown site is not necessarily buildable. Environmental restrictions and remediation needs could substantially limit the area available for development.

Pinellas County has received $15 million in state funding for environmental remediation, but Toytown has not received final approval as a sports complex.

Nevertheless, the proposal presents a fundamentally different land-use opportunity: redeveloping a former landfill rather than replacing an existing golf course.

Look at the proposed Toytown rendering.

The sports campus is pictured alongside major highways, interstate ramps, and developed commercial properties.

Now consider The Landings.

The existing golf course sits next to established Clearwater neighborhoods, with homes directly across the street.

During Wednesday's City Council meeting, My Clearwater Scoop's Chief Scoop Officer asked council members to consider the proposal from the perspective of those homeowners.

Would they welcome the sound of pickleballs, horns, sporting events, and bright evening lights while trying to relax in their own backyards?

It's one thing to support a large sports complex in principle. It's another to live beside one.

Residents have raised concerns about noise, traffic, lighting, the loss of trees and open space, potential wildlife impacts, and changes to their neighborhood's character.

Toytown would still require environmental, traffic, and noise studies. Its location does not guarantee an absence of impacts.

However, the distinction between a former landfill in a highway-oriented corridor and an existing golf course beside homes is substantial.

Why shouldn't that difference be central to the decision about where regional sports facilities belong?

Supporters of The Landings proposal spoke about children's well-being, physical activity, organized sports, and opportunities for families.

Those are important community goals.

However, during Wednesday's meeting, My Clearwater Scoop also raised a demographic question: Does the proposed development reflect the population and actual demographics of Clearwater residents?

Pinellas County Schools has been confronting declining enrollment and a shrinking school-age population.

In February 2026, the School Board approved the closure of Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy, along with other school consolidations and changes.

In September, district officials proposed additional closures and consolidations to address underused school facilities and declining enrollment.

The school district has explicitly identified its declining school-age population as a reason for these decisions.

If Pinellas County is closing schools because fewer students are attending them, shouldn't that demographic trend be part of the demand analysis for two major youth sports complexes?

School enrollment and sports tournament participation are not identical measures. Visiting teams could create demand beyond the county's resident student population.

But that makes a comprehensive analysis even more important.

How many local children would use these facilities? How many visitors are projected? Do those projections account for both Toytown and The Landings?

Those questions deserve answers before Clearwater makes a long-term commitment involving existing green space.

Creating opportunities for children doesn't automatically require replacing an existing golf course when another potential sports destination is being explored.

Toytown's preliminary plans include many of the same activities supporters want, from multipurpose athletic fields to pickleball and volleyball.

Meanwhile, developing The Landings would replace an existing recreational landscape and could reduce its trees, open areas, and habitat.

A golf course is not the same as an untouched nature preserve, and the amount of land that would remain green depends on the eventual design. Still, the landscape that exists today has value beyond its use for golf.

If the county needs both facilities, residents deserve to understand why, what each would offer, and how their economic projections account for one another.

If Clearwater wants additional recreation at The Landings, alternatives could include walking trails, shaded outdoor areas, nature-focused amenities, or smaller daytime sports facilities with fewer lighting and noise impacts. That is why we brought up that they should slow down and explore all options.

Those options would require further planning and evaluation, but they illustrate that the choice need not be limited to a golf course or a massive tournament complex.

In December 2025, Pinellas County Commissioner Kathleen Peters questioned whether Toytown's planned sports facilities might duplicate those proposed in Clearwater.

FOX 13 also reported that Sports Facilities Companies was involved in both proposals, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater President and CEO Brian Lowack.

The Landings proposal is associated with Porter Development and was formally submitted through Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment LLC.

The developments are separate, but the reported involvement of the same sports facilities company makes regional coordination an important issue.

Would two complexes complement each other, or compete for the same tournaments, visitors, and revenue?

And if Toytown becomes a regional tournament destination, should Clearwater consider a different recreational approach for The Landings?

Another central issue raised by My Clearwater Scoop during Wednesday's public comment period was the time allowed for competing proposals.

According to remarks by Assistant City Manager Al Battle, Clearwater had the option of allowing up to 120 days for competing proposals, but chose a 30-day submission period.

During my three-minute address, I questioned why the city wasn't taking the additional time to explore alternatives for 77 acres of public property.

Only two proposals were ultimately submitted:

Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment / Porter Development: A sports and entertainment complex.

Clearwater Golf Associates: Continued operation and improvements to the existing The Landings golf course.

An evaluation committee ranked the sports complex proposal highest, and city staff recommended moving forward with negotiations. Even though we there were discrepancies and red flags in the ranking system that we mentioned in last weeks newsletter. The link is below.

With 77 acres of green space and a public property at stake, the submission window warrants examination.

Why was 30 days considered sufficient? Could more time have attracted other ideas, including smaller recreational developments or proposals emphasizing nature and green space?

The financial considerations also matter. The developer has described substantial private investment and potential tourism benefits, but residents deserve clarity about lease terms, public obligations, and the long-term value of the land.

Wednesday's council meeting featured strong opinions from both supporters and opponents.

Supporters described potential benefits for youth athletics, families, tourism, and local businesses.

Opponents questioned whether those benefits justify the effects on the surrounding neighborhoods and the transformation of existing green space.

Melissa Stamos, a nearby resident representing Keep Keene Green, told council:

My Clearwater Scoop's public comments focused on three issues: the shortened proposal window, the experience of homeowners living beside the proposed complex, and the county's demographics, including declining public school enrollment.

There were also questions about the public-comment process.

Mark Bunker was not initially called to speak. Bunker has said that after approaching the council, a council member retrieved his speaker card from a trash can.

My Clearwater Scoop witnessed that Bunker was not initially called, although the reported handling of the card has not been independently confirmed.

Public participation is especially important when decisions involve long-term changes to publicly owned land.

Clearwater City Council voted 4–0 on October 14 to advance negotiations with Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment.

That vote did not authorize construction or grant final approval of the sports complex.

City officials and the developer must negotiate a potential agreement, which would return to council for further consideration.

Toytown remains a separate county-level proposal, with environmental and development questions still unresolved.

Both projects therefore remain subject to further decisions.

The debate over The Landings is bigger than golf versus sports.

It's about what kind of recreational future Clearwater wants and how much existing open space the city is prepared to transform to achieve it.

Both Toytown and The Landings have histories involving landfill use. However today, they represent two very different opportunities. Toytown is a landfill being evaluated for a major new recreational development, while The Landings already provides 77 acres of established green space next to Clearwater homes.

The question isn't which property was once a landfill. It's why Clearwater would substantially transform existing green space when another potential location for many of the same sports facilities is already under consideration.

Both developments may offer benefits. Both require scrutiny.

However, they begin with very different pieces of land, and those differences should be part of any regional planning discussion.

With Pinellas County already closing and consolidating schools amid declining enrollment, questions about the long-term demand for multiple youth sports destinations deserve particular attention.

If another major sports complex could meet many of the same needs, what is the justification for substantially redeveloping Clearwater's existing green space?

Before any final agreement, residents deserve a clear comparison of the alternatives, projected demand, financial implications, and potential loss of open space.

Because once existing green space is transformed, getting it back isn't as simple as changing a council vote.

📺 Sources and further reading

During my public comments at Wednesday's City Council meeting, I mistakenly referred to the proposed lease as 165 years. The correct potential maximum is 149 years, consisting of an initial 99-year lease with two optional 25-year extensions.

We're human, mistakes happen, and when we get something wrong, we believe in setting the record straight. That's part of our commitment to keeping Clearwater informed.

Stan | Chief Scoop Officer, My Clearwater Scoop

From legendary performers at Coachman Park to music education reaching thousands of Tampa Bay students, Clearwater's 47-year tradition has a story worth hearing.

🎶 Clearwater knows how to put on a show. And this weekend, the 47th annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday is bringing another impressive lineup of performers to beautiful Coachman Park.

But beyond the lights, the music, and the crowds, there's another side to this beloved Clearwater tradition that deserves some applause.

What happens when the festival ends?

For the nonprofit Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation, the answer includes music education, community outreach, opportunities for young performers, and bringing the joy of music to people who might not otherwise experience it.

It's hard to imagine, but Clearwater Jazz Holiday began with concerts performed from the back of a flatbed truck and at venues around the city.

Forty-seven years later, the festival has become one of Clearwater's signature annual celebrations.

Over the decades, its stages have welcomed legendary names including Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bonnie Raitt, and Gladys Knight.

And the tradition continues this weekend.

🎺 Friday's lineup includes trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval and percussion superstar Sheila E. Saturday features Larkin Poe, while The Wood Brothers headline Sunday evening.

It's a remarkable musical legacy for a city we're fortunate to call home.

Here's something many residents may not realize.

The Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation doesn't limit its mission to four days of entertainment.

Its History of Jazz Outreach Program brings professional musicians into schools and community settings for interactive presentations exploring the history, culture, and sounds of jazz.

📚 According to a recent foundation video description, the program has reached more than 38,000 students across approximately 60 Tampa Bay area schools.

And its outreach has expanded beyond traditional classrooms.

❤️ The foundation describes experiences serving people with disabilities, autism and other neurodivergent conditions, as well as older adults in senior living communities and memory care centers.

A recently shared visit to Tarpon Springs Elementary School offers a glimpse of musicians bringing that educational experience directly to students.

Some children love soccer. Others love football, tennis, or baseball.

While some discover their passion through music.

Maybe it's the first time they hear a trumpet. The excitement of learning a guitar chord. Or the confidence that comes from performing in front of an audience.

The foundation has developed initiatives including Young Lions Jazz Master Sessions, offering instruction and performance opportunities; My Journey with Jazz, introducing young people to jazz history; and Give Them a Stage, helping aspiring musicians gain real-world performance experience.

Its education efforts have also included instrument donations, scholarships, support for school music programs, and opportunities for students interested in the behind-the-scenes business of live entertainment.

These programs illustrate an important idea: investing in young people doesn't have to mean investing exclusively in sports.

Music, art, and creative expression can open doors, build confidence, and introduce children to possibilities they may never have considered.

The foundation also maintains a collection of free educational resources, including recorded music lessons, jazz history presentations, and its STOP-TIME SERIES featuring longtime educator and musician Frank T. Williams III.

Some of the foundation's online materials date back several years, so we've reached out to confirm which in-person educational programs are currently operating and how Clearwater families can participate.

In the meantime, residents can explore the foundation's existing resources:

📖 Education & Outreach: https://www.clearwaterjazz.com/education/

🎼 Free Lessons & Recorded Sessions: https://www.clearwaterjazz.com/thestudio.html

The 47th Clearwater Jazz Holiday runs October 15–18 at Coachman Park, with performances spanning jazz, blues, funk, rock, and more.

🌟 The festival also features the CJH Youth All-Stars on Sunday, October 18, at 3:30 PM, giving young musicians a place in the weekend's celebration.

Whether you're planning to attend or simply appreciate what this tradition brings to our community, there's something worth remembering.

The biggest names may draw the crowds.

But the music reaching a classroom, inspiring a young musician, or brightening someone's day may be the legacy that lasts longest.

🎟️ Full festival lineup, tickets, and information: https://www.clearwaterjazz.com/

Before you load up the car, take a peek at the live beach cam to see exactly how busy it is out there. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to go and when to enjoy our little slice of paradise another day.

Check current water temperatures and conditions Here

Watch the live Clearwater Beach Cam Here

Our pets aren't just animals - they're family. If you've seen any of the pets below please email us at [email protected] and we will connect you directly with their families. One share could bring someone's baby home.

Zena has been missing for over 208+ days from the Seville Condo area near Clearwater Costco. Her heartbroken family will not give up searching

LEARN MORE →

Leah has been missing since April 28th from the King Arthur Court in Dunedin. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

Lobo has been missing since May 11th from Gladden Park in St. Petersburg. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

River is a one-year-old male tabby (brown, white, and gray) who slipped out the front door on May 30th, and last seen near 134th Ave and Trotter Rd in Largo.

LEARN MORE →

Mama Kitty is a 15 year old black cat with with a clipped left ear that went missing on June 4th, and last seen near Druid and Belcher in Clearwater.

LEARN MORE →

🎸 Zach Seufert Friday October 16th- FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Southern Express Friday October 16th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - Kerry McNally - Friday & Saturday 8:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - The Dark & Dirty Comedy Show - Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎸 Electric Ave Saturday October 17th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Richie Hume Saturday October 17th - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

READ MORE →

🧘 Free Sunset Yoga Monday at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - FREE admission - Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, 33764, Meet on The Green LEARN MORE →

🚶‍♀️ SilverSneakers: Zumba Gold Class Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 am - Aging Well Center @ The Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, 33765, View Map LEARN MORE →

🧘 Yoga Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm - Aging Well Center @ The Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, 33765, View Map FEES & LEARN MORE →

🦅 Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Clearwater) — A peaceful 51-acre preserve with shaded oak trails, boardwalks over the lake, and a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary where you can see rescued eagles, hawks, and falcons.

⛵ Clearwater Community Sailing Center A nonprofit sailing center at 1001 Gulf Blvd offering boat rentals, sailing lessons for all ages, and Summer Camp. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm.

🏓 Pickleball Court Locations: Here is the easiest way to find Pickleball courts near you with an interactive map.

🏖️ Near the Beach

🏙️ Inland

⚠️ Trivia nights and schedules can change. We recommend confirming directly with the venue before heading out. Know of a change or a new spot? Tell Scout →

Thanks for reading My Clearwater Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone that you think would enjoy it.

Until next time,

Stan, Scoop and Scout