In early 2009, St. Petersburg Preservation president Will Michaels convened a community meeting to gauge the interest in organizing a celebration to comemmorate the centennial of the creation and dedication of waterfront park in downtown St. Petersburg. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of the meeting participants, a steering committee was formed and soon ideas for events were being brought forward and discussed. Additional volunteers stepped forward, fundraising started and artist Carrie Jadus stepped up to create a beautiful centennial comemmorative poster. Soon, a centennial celebration with mulitple events to be held over the course of 2010 were in the works! In October 2009, City Council declared 2010 to be the waterfront parks centennial year, the centennial poster was unveiled and a kick-off reception was held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, itself celebrating its centennial. The centennial celebration is for all to enjoy, visitors and residents alike, and to acknowledge the incredible foresight of William Straub, Perry Snell and the other city leaders who had the vision and commitement 100 years ago to turn the waterfront of a small but growing town into a beautiful green necklace open to all to use. Today, that vision remains and makes St. Petersburg special! Celebrate this city's glorius waterfront!