Lake Park 55+ Communities

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.