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» 2009 » April
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Safety Harbor
Tucked away like a hidden gem among the ancient oaks at the top of old Tampa Bay, the town of Safety Harbor is a small town hideaway with sparkling water views. Home of the historic Espiritu Santo Springs and a world-renowned spa, Safety Harbor has always drawn visitors with its restorative powers. Its natural beauty and ideal locale continue to attract young families, artists, retirees, working professionals and others to come and make Safety Harbor home.This is a vibrant village, with weekly markets and festivals, boating marinas and fishing piers, and a quaint downtown, bustling with an eclectic array of shops, eateries and art galleries. Residents of Safety Harbor enjoy seven city parks, the backdrop for live music events and lively outdoor pursuits – biking, roller-blading, jogging and strolling – as well as canoeing and kayaking in Tampa Bay. Big-city attractions are just minutes away, but once you’re home in Safety Harbor, the rest of the world seems distant, indeed.
Location, Location, Location
Safety Harbor residents cannot say enough about the contrast between the insulated feel of their Safety Harbor village and its location. It is minutes away from major north-south, east-west traffic corridors in Pinellas County, making it about the most centrally located community in the whole of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. From a home in Safety Harbor, you can get to Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater quicker than from almost any other community. Yet when you are home, you feel like you are in a small town miles from anywhere.“It’s like a little village off the beaten path,” according to long-time resident, Gary Bass. “When you make that turn to the east off McMullen Booth Road, you leave six lanes of traffic, the hustle and the stress and you feel like you’re on vacation.”
Less than 18,000 people live in Safety Harbor, making it a rather small community by today’s standards. They consistently report that what they like about living there is the small town feel, the traditional Main Street, and the quaint atmosphere. Location is also a big factor as residents can drive to just about anywhere around the area in just a few minutes.
Safety Harbor maintains an active Parks and Recreation Department, sponsoring a number of camps that children can enjoy for a small fee. These include everything from educationally oriented activities to sailing instruction. The camps are popular and a source of civic pride.
For Youngsters
The many young families send their children to Safety Harbor Elementary School and Safety Harbor Middle School. Most high-school students attend Countryside High a few miles to the north.Abundance of Recreation
Safety Harborites have a relatively short drive to all that Tampa Bay has to offer. But they love their peaceful little enclave and produce many community events. Each year there is a Seafood Festival, a Canoe and Kayak Festival and a Wine Festival, among others. Every third Friday of the month the city blocks of a big chunk of Main Street for music, dancing and food.Medical Services
Mease Countryside Hospital is located in Safety Harbor and has a fully staffed emergency room. It also features maternity and pediatric care. Meese Countryside is a top quality operator and has been named as one of the country’s top 100 hospitals seven times. That’s quite remarkable considering that it only began in 1986.Property Search:
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Factoids:
Population: 17,363
Land Area: 4.92 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 42.2Points of Interest: Weekly Markets and Festivals, boating, Fishing, Quaint Downtown, Art Galleries, Seven City Parks, Live Music Events, Biking, Roller-blading, Jogging, Canoeing and Kayaking, Seafood Festival, A Wine Festival.
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Redington Shores
The island community of Redington Shores offers sunrise views over Boca Ciega Bay to the east and breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico to the west.Residents live in modern beach homes, luxury condos, or in lovely apartments or cozy cottages on quaint inland streets in an area covering only 200 acres.
Surrounded with wide sandy beaches, 2,500 residents enjoy a lifestyle understandably focused around the water. In fact, a glimpse of water is literally never far away from just about anyone in Redington Shores, beckoning sunbathers, swimmers and shell-gatherers. The turquoise water is certain to attract boaters and fishermen. The popular Redington Shores Beach Access boasts a successful dune establishment program, where boardwalks protect the seashore grasses and plants that thrive in this delicate ecosystem.Children gather at the playground in one of three neighborhood parks, all available with an easy stroll from most homes. Anglers fish the coastal waters from one of the city docks. Neighbors greet each other as they stroll along the beach at sunset. The Lobster Pot, a local landmark, attracts folks from near and far for fantastic seafood meals.
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Factoids:
Population: 2,467
Land Area: 0.39 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 55.3Points of Interest: Beaches, Sunbathers, Swimmers, Boating Fishing, The Lobster Pot, Parks, City Docks, Three city parks Tennis courts, Boardwalks.
Statistics are an estimation only
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Redington Beach
This small residential community maintains a laidback atmosphere with plenty of private beaches and quaint neighborhoods. 1,700 residents enjoy four town parks, a community recreation area and a causeway that’s a favorite of fishermen. The city prides itself on its “triangle” parks, small areas of colorful flowers and native foliage that adorn many city intersections.Measuring just one square mile in size, the city is surrounded by water – the Intracoastal Waterway on the east and the Gulf of Mexico on the west. It is a haven for boaters and beachcombers.
With very limited commercial development, residents enjoy a tranquil atmosphere. Housing is primarily single-family dwellings and low-rise condominiums.
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Factoids:
Population: 1,700
Land Area: 0.36 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 49.9Points of Interest: Four Town Parks, Community Recreation Area, Fishing, Native Foliage that adorn many city intersections, The Intracoastal Waterway, The Gulf of Mexico, Boating and Beachcombing.
Statistics are an estimation only
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Pinellas Park
Pinellas County residents seeking a central location find it in Pinellas Park. Situated midway between Clearwater and St. Petersburg, this city of approximately 47,000 people is a community-oriented place to live.
This family-friendly community offers a variety of housing options among several neighborhoods and real estate developments, including single-family residences, golf course homes, town homes, condos and waterfront homes.
Performances
One focal point of community activity is the city-owned England Brothers Band Shell, where annual events including the popular Country in the Park festival are held. Every third Tuesday of each month, folks gather there for a free lunchtime performance on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater pipe organ.Concerts, plays and other live performances are enjoyed at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center throughout the year. The Center was completed in late 2007, seats 500, and is a multi-use facility. Currently, it is home to the Civic Orchestra, a local community chorus and the Sunstate Opera Society. The facility is also available for weddings and banquets.
Watch for Horses
An active parks and recreation department provides opportunities for casual or league play, and indoor and outdoor activities. Some of these offer special facilities for the 800 horses that live in the city. There are horse trails in some parks and a show ring in Hellen Howarth Park. Horses are commonplace enough that traffic officials saw fit to place horse crossing lights on some streets and cross walk buttons high enough so that riders can reach them.On the weekend, residents might be found hunting for a bargain at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market, a 100-acre market that attracts folks from near and far.
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Factoids:
Population: 47,354
Land Area: 14.7 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 40.2
Points of Interest: England Brothers Band Shell, Country in the Park festival, City Auditorium, Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, The Civic Orchestra, The Sunstate Opera Society, League Play, Indoor and Outdoor Activities. Horse Trails, Hellen Howarth Park. Equestrian Events, Flea Markets. -
Palm Harbor
More than 60,000 residents make the Palm Harbor community their home. Currently an incorporated area and largely governed by Pinellas County, Palm Harbor features a wide variety of available housing choices. From golf course communities with a country club atmosphere to lovely historic areas, from contemporary single family neighborhoods to condominium communities with boat slips and waterfront access, Palm Harbor has something to offer just about every homebuyer.History and Charm
The entry to Palm Harbor’s historic downtown makes quite an impression with its Gateway Art Sculptures. Recently refurbished, Old Palm Harbor Main Street has preserved eight historic structures, and is the heart of this small town with a strong sense of community. The charming brick paving and tree-canopied sidewalks make the area especially conducive to an afternoon stroll through the shops.
A short distance from the quaint downtown, with its mixture of retail service, and professional offices, is the main traffic artery U.S. 19, offering national chain restaurants and retailers a short distance from home. Those interested in golf will be glad to know that Innisbrook Golf Resort, a nationally regarded golf course, is located conveniently in Palm Harbor.Activities abound for residents. The Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation Department sponsors everything from dance classes and guitar lessons to kayaking and tennis for both youth and adults. The Main Street program sponsors a variety of events, including the Palm Harbor Parrot Head Party and First Fridays. The first Sunday in October, the Palm Harbor Junior Women’s Club sponsors the “Taste of Palm Harbor” festival, offering samples from more than 20 local restaurants. Proceeds of the event benefit the club’s grants and scholarship program.
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Factoids:
Population: 60,000
Land Area: 17.9 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 43.2Points of Interest: Palm Harbor’s Historic Downtown, Gateway Art Sculptures, Brick Paving and Tree-Canopied Sidewalks, Shops, The Innisbrook Golf Resort, Dance Classes, Guitar Lessons, Kayaking, Tennis for youth and adults, Palm Harbor Parrot Head Party and First Fridays, The first Sunday in October, Taste of Palm Harbor festival.
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Oldsmar
Oldsmar residents can thank founder Ransom E. Olds for the charm of the town with its thoughtfully planned streets fanning out from Shore Drive along Tampa Bay. Hiring engineers and surveyors from Boston, Olds modeled the community after Washington, D.C., with tree-lined boulevards leading from the bay to downtown like spokes of a wheel.Varied Lifestyles
Oldsmar has changed dramatically in recent years as the older cracker-style homes have given way to luxurious waterfront estates, and former farmland has been developed into master-planned communities with golf, tennis, swimming and other amenities. With the multitude of new neighborhoods, everything from starter-homes to luxury condominiums to executive mansions is available to fit a wide range of budgets and lifestyles.Natural Beauty
Oldsmar residents take seriously their stewardship of the area’s natural beauty. In 1992, rather than develop the land, nearly 1,700 acres of pine flatwoods, cypress domes and wetlands were set aside for the Brooker Creek Wildlife Preserve. The city maintains an exceptional reclaimed water system as part of its commitment to the environment.Its location on the Eastern edge of Pinellas County make it a favorite of individuals who want a small town lifestyle, but need to be centrally located between the larger bay area cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater or Tampa. On the weekend, Oldsmar residents might be found hunting bargains or purchasing fresh produce at the Oldsmar Flea market, a local institution, or hiking a nature trail in one of the city’s many parks. Each spring everyone turns out for Oldsmar Days and Nights which for almost 50 years has been the annual celebration of Oldsmar’s history.
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Factoids:
Population: 13,443
Land Area: 8.92 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 35.5Points of Interest: Master-Planned Communities, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, The Brooker Creek Wildlife Preserve. Small Town Lifestyle, Centrally located between the larger bay area cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater or Tampa. Oldsmar Flea market, Hiking, Nature Trails, Oldsmar Days and Nights.
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North Redington Beach
North Redington Beach is a small island town known for the friendliness of those who live there and the beauty of its beaches.If you want to live surrounded by water, North Redington Beach will suit you well. Four land “fingers” extend into Boca Ciega Bay on the eastern side of the island, giving residents on each side of the streets a waterfront home, many with private boat slips in their own backyard. White sand beaches meet the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the western side of town.
About 1,500 residents of North Redington Beach enjoy an easy beach lifestyle. City tennis courts and children’s playgrounds provide additional recreation. The beach is also an important nesting site for turtles, and the folks of North Redington Beach take great care to protect the turtle nests.The area has a Hollywood connection as the site of the famed Tides Bath Club, a vacation destination of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, and other sports and show business luminaries. The Tides Bath Club is now gone, but the magnificent beachfront site is now home to luxury condominiums, townhouses and private homes.
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Factoids:
Population: 1,503
Land Area: 0.30 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 57.8
Points of Interest: Boca Ciega Bay, Boat Slips, White Sand Beaches. The Gulf of Mexico, Fishing, Sailing, Swimmng. -
Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. Its residents either live on the water or within walking distance of it. In fact, watch the daily migration of people as they wander down to the water each night to view the spectacular sunset.With a population just under 5,000 people, Madeira Beach has a small town atmosphere and a largely residential feel. Families are in the minority here, as many Madeira Beach households are retirees or empty nesters.
The main attraction of the city is St. John’s Pass Village, a quaint fishing village with unique shops and boutiques, a fishing fleet, cruise lines, boat rentals, parasailing and jet skiing, and a variety of restaurants. If deep sea fishing is of interest to you, several charters are available right here at John’s Pass. As you walk along a waterside boardwalk you will most likely see dolphins in the water below. Want a close-up photo with you and a pelican? Then John’s Pass is your best bet.Residents and visitors alike enjoy Gulf views from the white sand beaches, as well as the beauty of the Intracoastal along the 1,100 foot boardwalk.
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Factoids:
Population: 5,000
Land Area: 1.03 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 48.4Points of Interest: St. John’s Pass Village, Fishing, Restaurants and shops. Gulf views from the white sand beaches, The beauty of the Intracoastal along the 1,100 foot boardwalk.
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Largo
Situated in the heart of Pinellas County, Largo is a family-friendly community of tree-lined streets, plentiful lakes and hundreds of acres of parkland. Home to more than 74,000 residents, Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County.The dynamic nature of Largo might be best admired in the redevelopment of its downtown district. Largo’s West Bay Drive district is a charming collection of restaurants and shops just a short stroll from Largo Central Park, the venue for regular concerts, festivals and other entertainment events. A city trolley provides a fun way to get around town on the weekend. The Largo Cultural Center downtown is both an entertainment destination and community gathering spot.
Largo residents are justly proud of the many jewels within their community. A prime example is Florida Botanical Gardens, where native and tropical flora and fauna thrive on over 30 acres of cultivated gardens and 90 acres of natural preserves. Several endangered species, including the bald eagle and the gopher tortoise, are safe at home here. Largo’s Gulf Coast Museum of Art is another treasure, with its nine permanent collections and changing exhibitions. Heritage Village, a 21-acre living history museum, offers visitors a glimpse into Florida’s past.Property Search:
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Factoids:
Population: 73,796
Land Area: 15.7 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 47.5Points of Interest: Downtown District, Largo Central Park, City Trolley, The Largo Cultural Center, Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo’s Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Heritage Village.
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Kenneth City
Located right in the middle of the Pinellas Peninsula, Kenneth City is the smallest municipality in the county. A diverse mix of families, retirees and singles make up the population of 4,500. Named after the community developer’s son, Kenneth City’s land mass is just 0.7 of a sq. mile.Residents like the central location. Kenneth City is 5 miles from St. Petersburg and 10 miles from Clearwater. The Gulf Beaches are even closer — just a 4 mile drive away.
Bedroom Community
Kenneth City is comprised mostly of residents and a few supporting businesses so most people who live there tend to have jobs somewhere else. Many characterize it as a “quiet community,” where local concerns tend to be confined to issues no more controversial than the fate of a herd of Muscovy ducks.Schools
Children in Kenneth City might attend Seventy-Fourth Street Elementary School, or Blanton Elementary School, which offers a gifted and talented program. Dixie Hollins High School serves older children.
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Factoids:
Population: 4,500
Land Area: 0.71 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 45.7Points of Interest: Centrally Located, 5 miles from St. Petersburg, 10 miles from Clearwater, The Gulf Beaches, City Parks, Fishing.
- Come join the Tampa Bay Rowdies for Military Appreciation Night for a chance to honor local troops!
- Greek Wine and Food Tasting to benefit All Children’s Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Time is running out to stand up for sensible mortgage rules
- Fort De Soto – Quartermaster Storehouse Museum
- Midday By The Bay
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