Residents Launch Petition to โขHalt Port โคSt. Lucie โSoccer Stadiumโค Project
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – A petition is โฃcirculating among โPort St.โ Lucie residents seeking to halt the construction of a proposed 6,000-seat โขsoccer stadium in theโ Walton & One Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). As of Thursday afternoon,โข the online effort had gathered 712 signatures.
The petition highlights concerns โabout traffic congestion and โquestions the necessity of the stadium, especially in light โคof existingโข infrastructure needs. Opponents argueโข that funds shouldโ be prioritized forโข improvements โฃto U.S. Highway 1 before committing to a new โsportsโ venue.
The stadiumโ project is being funded through a dedicated pot of money earmarked for revitalization within theโ Waltonโ & One CRA District, according to st. Lucie County Administrator โHoward Samples. “That money cannot be used to build โa road in North Port St. lucie โor a park โฃin Westโค Port St. Lucie,” Samples stated. The project โwill โฃbring a United โSoccer League โขteam โฃto Port St.lucie, with soccer matches anticipated to begin in 2027.
The proposed stadium is intended to spur economic growth in theโฃ walton & one CRA District, but critics contend that the โขbenefits are uncertain and may not outweigh theโ potentialโ drawbacks โfor the wider community. โThe petition represents a growing โwave of resident concern as the project moves forward without a firm construction timeline.