Lake Park 55+ Communities

Lake Park is appropriately named with a number of great waterfront parks in town making this the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The Lake Park Scrub Natural Area offers nature trails that take visitors through 56-acres of scrub, scrubby flatwood, and mesic flatwood ecosystems teeming with wildlife.  Kelsey Park (A.K.A Lake Shore Park) offers great waterfront walking trails with beautiful views of Singer Island, pickleball courts, tennis courts, a picnic pavilion, and a playground.  Just outside of Lake Park, Riviera Beach boasts a phenomenal snorkeling trail at Phil Foster Memorial Park where an artificial reef was constructed that attracts octopus, seahorses, and other fascinating marine life. The Lake Park Harbor Marina is also situated in a dog-friendly park with tennis courts.  This full-service municipal marina features 112 boat slips that offer annual and short-term leasing with electric service, potable water, Wi-Fi, dual boat ramps, pump-out stations, a fuel dock, laundry facilities, and overnight trailer parking. The town hosts monthly Sunset Celebrations at the marina where residents gather for free concerts, dancing, cocktails, food vendors, and arts & crafts.

Residents don't need to venture out of town to enjoy some fun nightlife.  The Lake Park Black Box at the Kelsey Theater features a little something for everyone with rock concerts, comedy shows, wrestling matches, and even psychic mediums.  Head over to the Kelsey City Brewing Co for live music and small-batch craft beer.  This unique venue features an art gallery with one of the largest murals in South Florida.  Coastal Karma is another great Lake Park brewery with a wide range of flagship beers that can be enjoyed in a family-friendly atmosphere where your dog can join in on the fun.  The Locale Gastropub is another good choice for craft beer.  This local's favorite also offers a full bar and a build-a burger option that allows hungry patrons to get creative with add ons like pulled pork and pickled onions.

Harry Kelsey founded Kelsey City (present-day Lake Park) in 1923. He envisioned a vacation destination for wealthy northerners looking to escape brutal winters in an area where he could also set up agricultural industries.  Kelsey sold his chain of luncheon restaurants called Waldorf Systems to fund a purchase of 100,000 acres.  He moved to Florida from Boston and hired the Olmstead brothers and Dr. John Nolan to design the city that would be the first zoned municipality south of Washington DC. The Olmstead brothers were the sons of Fredrick Law Olmstead, the founder of landscape architecture.  These famous landscape architects also completed projects such as the National Mall, White House grounds, and New York's Central Park.

Hiring the best in the business to design the city paid off as the project gained nationwide attention and the Florida land boom thrived with manufacturing industries popping up in the area.  The entrepreneur lured tourists with a golf course and resort called Palm Harbor on Munyon Island.  As visitors entered the city, they passed through an arch that read  “Welcome to Kelsey City, Gateway to the World’s Winter Playground”.   The Town Hall was designed by architect Bruce Kitchell in 1927 with a stunning Mediterranean Revival design.  Sadly, the land boom was short-lived and a hurricane in 1928 caused significant damage to the new city and many residents moved on.  The Mirror Ballroom in Town Hall helped to lift the spirits of the residents that remained.  They attended dances, theatrical performances, and other social events that were reminiscent of the "Winter Playground" that the city was once meant to be.

In 1939 the town's garden club convinced officials to rename the town Lake Park in an attempt to overcome their blighted reputation.  The 1940s and 50s brought revitalization as factories opened in and around Lake Park.  This population boom and increased tax revenue laid the foundation for the hundreds of businesses and thousands of residents that flourish in Lake Park today.  While there is only one Lake Park 55+ community, this is still a great Florida retirement destination.