Walter Fuller Park is located at 7891 26th Ave N. Photo by Brian Brakebill
Parks of St. Pete: Walter Fuller Park By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Pete is home to more than 150 parks, offering a wide variety of possible activities. There are more than 100 picnic areas, 80 playgrounds, 44 miles of fitness trails, 30 basketball courts, 21 boat ramps, 11 softball fields, six dog parks, five beaches, three skate parks, two disc-golf courses, and one jai-alai court. We also have 76 tennis courts. 33 football/soccer fields, 31 baseball fields, nine volleyball courts, four historic sites, three nature preserves, and one splash pad. And, still, there’s more! Simply put, choose an activity (or choose to just relax) and there’s a city park that fits your needs.
Anhinga sunbathing near the lake at Walter Fuller Park. Photo by City of St. Petersburg
No Exaggeration: This Park Has Everything But a Beach Walter Fuller Park, at 7891 26th Ave. N, has numerous offerings, including abundant parking and restrooms. With a beautiful lake and a full-service pool, it has gorgeous water views and ample opportunities for swimming and sunbathing. Its recreation center, dog park, recreation trails, sport complex, and numerous shelters provide myriad spaces for moving, learning, or lounging. Add in some art and a bit of St. Pete history.
A Bit of St. Pete History Walter Fuller Park is named for two men: H. Walter Fuller and his son Walter P. Fuller. The senior Fuller moved here in 1907, bought thousands of acres of undeveloped real estate and extended Central Avenue and the trolley car line to Boca Ciega Bay. His son followed in his father’s developer footsteps. At various times, he owned more than 3,200 acres in St. Petersburg. He developed the Jungle area, including the Jungle Prada restaurant and hotel, and the infamous Gangplank nightclub. Eventually, much of that land would be lost during one of St. Pete’s numerous busts. Today, Walter Fuller Park sits amidst those once wild Jungle acres.
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GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / MAY 2022
