Gulf Shore Park

Crystal Beach, one of the original communities in Pinellas County, began with settlers who started homesteading there around 1850. In 1912, land developers Dr. J.D. Hanby and A.D. Powers of the Crystal Beach Development Co. platted the community and laid out a gridded street system that included a park along the Gulf of Mexico. Named Gulf Shore Park, this area was described in 1927 company marketing materials as a narrow strip of land entirely along the west of Gulf Drive from the north end of the drive to the south end of the property. It consists of a shell path and paved portions of Gulf Drive running from Georgia Avenue to Ohio Avenue. Powers and Hanby intended the park land to be forever held as a public amenity, calling it the front yard of Crystal Beach and welcoming everyone to enjoy its sunsets and cooling breezes. Gulf Shore Park was part of the foundational character of Crystal Beach and a focal point in preserving waterfront access for everyone.

Palm Harbor, Florida · United States