War Veterans Memorial Park in St. Petersburg
 
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The Parks in Pinellas County Florida
Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg
100 Parks in 100 Weeks!

War Veterans Memorial Park
9600 Bay Pines Boulevard
St. Petersburg

“This public park is dedicated by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners to the memory of all who have honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and to all residents and guests of this County for their wholesome outdoor family recreation.”
(April 6, 1974)

 
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This 122-acre site beside the Bay Pines VA Medical Center was donated to Pinellas County in 1963 and dedicated as the plaque states in 1974. This Park is located on Boca Ciega Bay on the Intracoastal Waterway.

The centerpiece of the Park is the Memorial Center with some impressive stonework and a circle of flags and plaques dedicated to the Military Branches and a large equatorial sundial – in the center - engineered specifically for this site. There is also a monument dedicated to Purple Heart recipients - the wounded combat veterans from all wars and dedicated in 2019.

The Memorial Center also has a Battlefield Cross Memorial dedicated on Memorial Day 2015 with 300 in attendance.

The Park is home to a tank that is nearby. . . a 45,500 lb. Walker Bulldog Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 76 MM Gun M41A1 to be exact! It looks like it could roll into battle today and is a big hit with visiting youngsters and oldsters alike! Find links to more about all the Park’s monuments and memorials below.

On to the amenities! A marina with six boat launching ramps is just inside the entrance where we often find much activity of both the human and feathered variety. The marina access is 24/7 and the Park itself is open from 7 AM to 6 PM daily.

There are 5 picnic shelters which may be reserved up to a year in advance. Tip: Shelter #5 on the point is the most popular and when you visit you will see why. There are other picnic tables and grills, most with fantastic views of the Bay, spread here and there throughout the Park. They are all on a first-come basis.

The Park boasts restrooms, two playgrounds, a kayak/canoe launch area and a private rental service is available near shelter #5. The Park has an approximate one-mile unpaved trail, but it mostly runs along a chain link fence that separates the two properties. We would call it more of a walking exercise trail rather than the normal communing with Nature type trail. The roadway through the Park offers some decent and safe distance for biking. Dogs are allowed if kept on a 6’ leash.

We found it a serene and peaceful place with some great views of the Bay. We hope the photos might entice you to visit this Park for yourself. We think you will like it and please do let us know your own comments.
 
County Park Website:
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/23_War_Vets.htm

Park diagram:
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/maps/color/amenities/WarVeterans.pdf

Audio Tour of the Park:
http://www.pinellascounty.org/audio_tours/Parks_WarVeterans.mp3

More about the Battlefield Cross Memorial:
https://www.pinellascounty.org/battlefieldcross/

More about the Park’s History and Memorials from USF:
https://pinellas.wateratlas.usf.edu/wse/PointOfInterest.aspx?wshedid=6&poiid=68

Reserving a Pinellas County Shelter:
https://secure.rec1.com/FL/pinellas-county-fl/catalog

Google Satellite Map
(Enlarge (+) for a birds-eye view or decrease (-) to plot your route)
 
 
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Entire Contents (c) Copyright Jack Armstrong 2022 All Rights Reserved
Comments or questions contact Niki & Jack at abcadventuretime@gmail.com
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