This new 2 story 20,825 sf Recreation Center consists of admin offices, indoor gym, teen room, party room, kitchen, multi-purpose room, restrooms/locker rooms, pool support areas, utility support areas, discovery rooms, and study rooms. The Aquatics Center program consists of a pool with pool deck, splash pad, pool play equipment, changing cabanas, and multi-gender restrooms. A playground, play court, multipurpose lawn, dry pond, artificial turf area with seating, and a 40x40 shelter complete the park space.

The City of St. Petersburg and the design team took a multifaceted approach to designing this as a new LEED Gold Building for the Shore Acres community. In doing so, it achieved the highest number of points (18) available in the LEED rating system for energy performance. Features include the installation of photovoltaic panels as a renewable energy source, sustainable water consumption and irrigation, low-e coating to reduce heat island effect as well as reflective PVC roofing materials and landscape surfacing.

The Shore Acres neighborhood is notoriously prone to flooding, and for that reason, level 1 was raised to 11 ft. above grade, while much of the program (including the gymnasium) was built on level 2 for added resilience to rising sea levels and weather events. The lifeguard office, pool restrooms, and pump rooms (all at grade) are all fully floodproofed to protect against water damage.

The Shore Acres Recreation Center demonstrates environmental responsibility, guaranteed energy efficiency, and promotes healthy interiors and resiliency.