Aiden Vanasco, Author at Old Southeast Neighborhood Association

OSNA Tree Grant Program Plants 11 Trees — And Sows the Seeds for More

We’re proud to share that the OSNA Tree Grant Program has successfully funded the planting of 11 new trees across the Old Southeast neighborhood in 2025! These trees — ranging from fruit-bearing varieties to native shade providers — were planted with the help of engaged residents committed to enhancing the beauty, resilience, and environmental health of our community. Each grant covered a portion of the tree’s cost, and our neighbors did the rest — planting, watering, and welcoming these new additions into our shared urban canopy. With every tree planted, we continue our mission to cool our streets, clean our […]

OSNA Tree Giveaway Cultivates Community Roots at 2025 Plant Swap

In April 2025, the Old Southeast Neighborhood Association (OSNA) proudly expanded its commitment to urban greening with a free tree giveaway during our much-loved Annual Plant Swap & Art Raffle. This year’s event was more than just a celebration of local plants and creativity — it was an opportunity to grow our tree canopy, one yard at a time. Thanks to generous support and coordination with city partners, OSNA distributed 100 free fruit trees to Old Southeast neighbors — including banana, pomegranate, avocado, and native varieties. The tree giveaway was designed to encourage sustainable landscaping, reduce urban heat, and provide […]

THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO COUNTED OSE TREES!

In August 2022,18 OSE residents attended a tree inventory training and/or helped count the trees in the neighborhood as part of the requirements of the city-wide urban forestry tree inventory initiative. More than 700 trees were counted! OSE tree distribution: Please watch the OSNA Facebook page, the OSNA website or email your information to become part of the tree counting group next time. Meet the neighbors, have some fun, help the trees, and make OSE more beautiful!

OSNA Tree Canopy Replacement Project

The Old Southeast Neighborhood Association (OSNA) is excited to move forward with the revitalization of our tree canopy through our OSNA Tree Canopy Grant. This initiative is made possible by a hurricane recovery grant from the Harborage Marina and the OSNA general fund contributing a total of $1,500 to help restore and enhance the greenery in our community. Grant Program Details The OSNA Tree Canopy Grant provides seed’ money to Old Southeast residents to assist in purchasing new trees for their properties. Each participating resident will receive up to $100 toward the purchase of an approved tree. The trees will be sourced […]

Old Southeast Neighborhood Association’s Ongoing Commitment to Recovery and Renewal

As part of our continued efforts to support the community after the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we are proud to share the latest developments from OSNA’s recovery and revitalization initiatives. In this trilogy of efforts, we highlight the generosity of the Harborage Marina, the spirit of giving back, and the steps we are taking to restore the tree canopy in Old Southeast. 1. Harborage Marina’s Generosity and OSNA’s Response In the aftermath of the hurricanes, the Harborage Marina stepped up to support local organizations by granting $1,250 to the Old Southeast Neighborhood Association (OSNA) to help with recovery. […]

OSNA Supports Polish American Society’s Hurricane Relief Efforts

In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Polish American Society in St. Petersburg has faced significant damage to their historic club, with repairs needed across the building. From roof and gutter replacement to restoring their iconic maple dance floor, the club has been working tirelessly to restore its spaces and preserve its legacy. Their goal of raising $150,000 for the repairs is ambitious but crucial to ensure the future of one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. The Old Southeast Neighborhood Association (OSNA) understands the hardship caused by these storms, as our own neighborhood was also affected, with […]

Old Southeast Tree Inventory 2023 Annual Report

In 2023, St. Pete started a Community Forestry program. This neighborhood based format focuses on forestry planning and development by aligning with the priorities of the resident groups. Priorities could include tree planting for a blend of the following strategies: St. Pete Community Forestry Robust community engagement is vital to this format. To begin, resident groups, or “tree teams” are trained to gather data on existing neighborhood trees to better understand the species biodiversity, age and condition of the existing forest asset, and the mapping of potential planting locations of new trees. In 2023, eight new neighborhoods were trained on TreePlotter , an online tree inventory mapping tool. Currently, 15 neighborhoods are actively performing their inventories and more than 4500 trees have been mapped. The City […]

Innovation District Planning

OSNA Board of Directors met with Alison Barlow and Mario Farias on May 30, 2024 to discuss the plans and changes coming to the Salt Creek area, just north of our Old Southeast neighborhood. The following is meant to share information about the upcoming planning sessions so that you are prepared to participate in the planning session for this district. Alison Barlow is the Executive Director of the Innovation District Mario Farias is a South St Petersburg native and business man interested in bringing positive change to the area. The St. Petersburg Innovation District (the District) is a public-private partnership (nonprofit) focused on increasing […]

Coyote Information from FWC

Letter to OSE from Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Coyotes are a native species and a natural part of Florida’s landscape as well as an important part of the ecosystem. Coyotes have adapted very well to urban environments, so it is not unusual or alarming to find them in communities such as yours. Coyotes are naturally fearful of humans and generally do not represent a risk to public health or safety, but there are some things residents can do to further limit the chances of an unwanted encounter. We try to be proactive in educating the public about what […]

St Pete’s New Debate: Upzoning our Neighborhoods

Community Character, as defined mostly by individual neighborhoods, is one of the cornerstone themes of the Vision2050 Plan. As the Administration and City Councilmembers start finalizing actual implementation of the 2050 Plan, a new debate has begun around potential zoning changes that could dramatically alter the character of St Pete neighborhoods. Old Southeast Neighborhood Association’s Sunshine Committee, along with the CONA (Council of Neighborhood Associations) Vision2050 Committee, will be closely following newly proposed changes as they wind through the City’s review and public outreach processes. “Unzoning Our Neighborhoods” Noted local historian Will Michaels has published an excellent overview on this […]