| About 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. |
