2025 All-America City Finalist – Port St. Lucie, FL

Port St. Lucie defies the traditional South Florida origin story. Founded in 1961 as a retirement community without job centers, parks, or core infrastructure, it has evolved into one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation through innovation, collaboration, and resident-driven leadership. Now the third-largest city in Florida, PSL is reshaping its future with a focus on sustainability and quality of life.

Major efforts include one of the largest septic-to-sewer conversion programs in the country and the creation of Naturally PSL: Green Spaces and Places, a resident-led initiative to protect 744 acres of conservation and recreation land. Stormwater improvements, water quality protections, and trail expansions reflect PSL’s deep commitment to environmental resilience.

At the heart of this transformation is a culture of civic engagement. Annual Citizen Summits, City University, Youth Council, and neighborhood-based initiatives ensure all voices help shape the city’s future. With inclusive leadership, transparent governance, and a community-first approach, PSL is setting a new standard for how diverse, fast-growing cities can thrive—resilient, connected, and forward-thinking.

Naturally PSL: Green Spaces and Places

Port St. Lucie’s non-traditional beginnings have left lasting impacts on its growth and natural environment. Incorporated in 1961 and systematically divided into 80,000 quarter-acre lots, the city’s early development as a retirement haven led to rapid residential growth and fragmented open space.

As the city grew, leaders worked to retrofit infrastructure for parks, jobs, and conservation. Yet with over 250,000 residents today—and nearly 50,000 added since 2020—land scarcity and concerns about disappearing green space intensified. At the 2023 Citizen Summit, residents ranked Neighborhood Parks and Natural Preserves as their top priority.

In response, the city launched Naturally PSL: Green Spaces and Places, guided by the concept of High-Performance Public Spaces (HPPS), which combine stormwater management, recreation, conservation, and economic development in multi-functional spaces.

Through a partnership with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, the city engaged over 900 residents in interviews, walking tours, and design sessions, resulting in resident-driven projects like Buzz Stops, Explore PSL, and a Green Land Bank.

Formally launched at the 2025 Citizen Summit, Naturally PSL includes trail maps, a Conservation Corps, and a Stewardship Award program. More than a program, it represents a resident-led movement to create a resilient, sustainable, and vibrant future—rooted in deep connection to place and community.

Improving Water Quality and Supply

Ensuring clean, reliable water for residents and ecosystems is a core priority for Port St. Lucie’s future. The city faces mounting pressures from stormwater runoff, nutrient pollution, and aging septic systems. In response, Port St. Lucie has adopted a comprehensive approach that integrates infrastructure upgrades with robust community engagement.

A flagship effort is the St. Lucie River/C-23 Water Quality Project at McCarty Ranch, which transforms 1,871 acres into a natural filtration and water storage facility. This project captures and filters six billion gallons of water annually, preventing 55,000 pounds of nitrogen and 14,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering the river—while also serving as a future alternative water source. Rarely attempted at the municipal level, it reflects Port St. Lucie’s leadership and innovation.

The city’s Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Program, with over 10,700 conversions since 1999, has diverted more than 20 billion gallons of wastewater and removed over two million pounds of nitrogen from entering surface waters.

Public engagement is central to these efforts. Initiatives like Lunch & Learn events, Water Woman outreach, the “Drop Savers” Poster Contest, and the St. Lucie Water Champions program connect residents to their local ecosystems through hands-on learning and environmental stewardship.

At the annual Citizen Summit, residents interact directly with project leaders, helping shape the city’s future. Together, through forward-thinking infrastructure and deep public participation, Port St. Lucie is building a cleaner, more resilient water future.

Addressing Environmental Challenges through Outreach and Partnerships

As environmental pressures grow, Port St. Lucie is responding with strategic partnerships and strong community engagement. Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful (KPSLB) is a flagship initiative that mobilizes hundreds of volunteers each year through citywide cleanups, Adopt-a-Street programs, and anti-litter campaigns. The Tree Giveaway Program, held twice annually, expands the urban canopy while fostering civic pride.

The Annual Hurricane Expo equips residents with disaster preparedness knowledge through expert-led presentations, an Exhibitor Hall of readiness solutions, and interactive community forums. Developed in response to community-identified needs, the Expo promotes household resilience and strengthens sector-wide emergency response.

Through the Resilient St. Lucie initiative, the city partners regionally to address shared climate risks. A 2021 Resilience Steering Committee now leads multi-agency efforts to develop a countywide Resilience Plan by 2026—supported by citizen science contributions that track local flooding in real time.

In 2021, Port St. Lucie hosted the Smithsonian Water/Ways exhibition, partnering with the Oxbow Eco-Center to offer educational programming and eco-tours on water conservation and environmental stewardship.

Programs like Naturally PSL and the Conservation Corps engage residents in restoring green spaces, while Stewardship Awards honor sustainability leaders. Outcomes include 75,000+ trees planted, thousands of volunteers activated, expanded environmental education, and increased federal/state funding.

Port St. Lucie’s proactive, partnership-based approach continues to build a cleaner, more resilient, and sustainable future.

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