Philippe Park
Philippe Park is a Pinellas County Park in located Safety Harbor. Philippe Park was acquired in 1948, making it the oldest park in the county. This historically rich park bears the name of Count Odet Philippe who introduced citrus culture to Florida. The existing park property was part of the original Philippe plantation from which several citrus trees still remain. An Indian mound listed in the National Register of Historic Landmarks as the Safety Harbor Site is also located within the park. Artifacts found in this mound are on display at the nearby Safety Harbor Museum. Philippe Park is 122-acre park that is shaded by large oaks and other hardwood trees. The park offers picnicking, a view of Old Tampa Bay along 1 mile of shoreline, a boat launching facility, fishing, and play areas.
Tocabaga Indians
One thousand years ago, Tocabaga Indians gathered here by the hundreds to feast on oysters and clams, the shells of which helped build up the very ground you can see rising 16 feet before you at the Safety Harbor Indian Mound Site. If you could travel back in time 1,000 years, and get a bird's-eye view, you would see the Tocabaga Indians working and playing in the very same waters that attracts visitors today.
Indian Mound
A Tocobaga Indian mound that is situated in the park is a National Historic Landmark known as the Safety Harbor Site. The temple mound is one of the last remaining examples of the Tocabaga civilization on the Pinellas Peninsula. Records indicate that in 1566, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, the founder of St. Augustine (1565), visited the site to help broker a truce between the Tocobago and the Culusa tribe to the south. On your next visit to Philippe Park make sure you climb to the top to experience a spectacular view of Old Tampa Bay.
Philippe Park
2525 Philippe Parkway
Safety Harbor, FL 34695