Lakewood Estates

Lakewood Estates

Character & Architecture

Lakewood Estates is a unique and distinctive neighborhood that was originally planned to encompass and feature the St. Petersburg Country Club. The neighborhood is predominantly single family in character.

The winding, quiet streets are named for Spanish famed explorers, cities and other significant landmarks. The Spanish influence was seen in the homes that were built during the 1920s boom time. As the area developed, the architecture of the buildings reflected the popular styles of that period: cottages, Mediterranean Revival, ranch and vernacular.

Triangular medians provide green space and areas for beautification.

The St. Petersburg Country Club previously known as the Lakewood Country Club, is the centerpiece of the neighborhood. The 18 hole golf course provides vistas of well-tended green space, dotted with lakes and trimmed with flowering shrubs and border plants. Many of the homes surrounding the golf course complement the existing landscaping.

The numerous lakes and woodsy atmosphere create a sense of seclusion from the hustle of crowds in city living. Yet, the homes are in close enough proximity to each other to encourage neighbor to neighbor interaction.

Along our boundary streets are a bank, three churches, two schools (Maximo Elementary and Lakewood High School), Seville Square Shopping Center and St. Petersburg Little Theater. Nearby is the south campus of St. Petersburg College, Eckerd College, Maximo Shopping Center and a wide variety of shops and other businesses along U.S. 19. Quick access to I-275 at 22nd and 54th Avenues South save travel time to Tampa and Ft. Myers. Boat ramps are also located at Maximo Park and Hubbards Marina.

Boundaries

Lake Maggiore to 54th Avenue South from Martin Luther King Street South AKA 9th Street South to 31st Streets South.

Amenities

Boyd Hill Nature Park lies within the neighborhood boundaries and provides recreation, entertainment and educational opportunities year round. There is a nature museum and a variety of programs for the public: Pioneer Days (featuring the Pioneer Village of historic buildings from various parts of the City), Old Machine Days, Art Arbor (featuring the works and crafts of predominantly Florida craftsman and artists), and Civil War enactments (both day and night). The Park also holds nature classes and overnight camping during the summer months for young people. There are guided walking and riding tours during the days and evenings throughout the year.

The park is an environmentally sensitive area, as well as home to endangered species (i.e. Gopher Turtles, flying squirrels and fox squirrels). The Park is also home for bald eagles, falcons, red tail and red shoulder hawks, alligators and several other species of smaller reptiles.

The South Branch Library is located at Roy Hannah Drive. There are two fire stations located on the east and west boundaries of the Lakewood Estates Neighborhood. The fire station on 31st Street South is equipped to handle water rescues.

History

By 1902, south St. Petersburg subdivided into plots for sale or development. The area that became Lakewood Estates was owned by Gross and Kreamer. The land was heavily wooded and was crisscrossed by many small streams and ponds with heavy undergrowth of palmettos and sawgrass. As the demand for new homes continued southward, the developers had to clear and drain the land.

The 1920s were booming times for all of Florida especially along the coastal areas. Tourists and new residents wanted recreational facilities. Charles R. Hall along with other developers such as C. Perry Snell began investing in the southern tracts of land. The largest parcel was purchased by Charles Hall. He decided to meet the need for recreation by designing a golf course surrounded by a residential community.

The first golf tournament was held in 1927, and continues to be an annual event. The tournament is the longest running amateur tournament in the United States. Second and third generations of original members still play golf at Lakewood Country Club. For more than 62 years, the Lakewood Country Club has been the golfing home to many of our most prominent citizens. On October 27, 1970, the Club was gutted by fire. A new club building rose from the ashes like a phoenix. A semi-enclosed pool and several tennis courts were also constructed for the members. In the neighborhood, it was mid-1960s that the streets were paved and the sanitary and stormwater sewers were completed. Lakewood Country Club was renamed St. Petersburg Country Club in 2000.

Lakewood began bridging the racial divide in the mid-1960s. What has happened in our neighborhood since that time is what the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune call an extraordinary event. As integration progressed and the demographics of our neighborhood changed, Lakewood Estates became known as an excellent example of how people can learn to accept each other and live together as good friends and neighbors. We are very proud to be an example for all neighborhoods.

Organizations/programs

In May 1952, a group of 43 people in south St. Petersburg decided to band together to promote the general welfare of Lakewood Estates. The incorporation papers were filed on May 6, 1952. At that time because of the sparseness of the population from Lake Maggiore south to Pinellas Point, the boundaries of the association were much larger than they are today. The boundaries extended from 45th Avenue South to the water between 4th and 31st Streets South. The extended areas were dropped as they became more populated and formed their own associations to meet issues particular to their areas.

By 1960, Lakewood Estates along with 17 other neighborhood association became charter members of the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA).

In December 1995, the Lakewood Estates Crime Watch program was reactivated by a new community officer, Officer Richard Grimberg. His efforts have created a block captain network, brought guest speakers on drug abuse, gang activity, auto theft, computer crime and other aspects of crime prevention residents might encounter. Also through his efforts we now have a Crime Watch patrol of volunteers that cruise the neighborhood in marked cars with cellular phones to report any suspicious activity and code violations. Lakewood Estates enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the City.

About our association

The association is bounded by Lake Maggiore on the north, 54th Avenue on the south, Martin Luther King Street aka 9th Street on the east, and 31st Street on the west.
The association meets monthly except December, June , July, and August, on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

The Association's mission revolves around property and community in Lakewood Estates. The group strives to maintain our way of life, the neighborly, almost woodsy atmosphere of quiet streets around a well-kept golf course, and our property values. To this end the Civic Association focuses primarily on zoning, both within and on our borders, and beautification, while the Neighborhood Watch addresses crime, code violations, and the safety of our residents.