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City Park Named in Honor of Audubon Founder - Katherine Bell Tippetts |
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(July 25, 2009) – Pinellas Point is the very tip of Pinellas County. Surrounded on three sides by warm Gulf waters, it is known as a neighborhood of lofty live oaks, beautiful homes and the famous pink streets. Now, this historic area has a new landmark. A small strip of city-owned, mangrove-edged shoreline has been named for Katherine Bell Tippetts, a former resident and founder of the St Petersburg Audubon Society (SPAS).
Click this link to view the photo gallery.
As owner and manager of the Belmont Hotel at 6th Avenue (later renamed
Central Avenue) and 6th Street, Tippets was a powerhouse of civic
activity during her many years as a St Petersburg resident, earning her
the title of “the City’s Queen.” As a writer, activist and
humanitarian, she was involved in numerous city, state and national
clubs and organizations–many times as a founding member.
With SPAS Celebrating their 100th anniversary, the Greater Pinellas
Point Civic Association and SPAS joined in an effort to name the
pasture-like setting after Tippets by donating the park’s sign. SPAS’
board member Alice Tenney spearheaded the effort through city channels
with a strong assist from St Petersburg councilman Jamie Bennett.
A brief dedication ceremony was held Saturday morning (July 25) with members of both organizations congratulating city park operations foreman Steve Ellis for his landscaping efforts. At the request of SPAS a native mulberry tree, beauty berries, elderberries and wax myrtles were planted beside the sign. Ellis explained that later efforts will be made to erect several other such “islands” in the park to attract migrating birds.
As special guest, William Tippets, Jr., grandson of the park’s namesake, lead visitors to his grandmother’s luxurious home on 14th street in view of the newly named park, for a street-side walking tour. He described the home as her primary summer residence explaining that his grandmother preferred staying at the Belmont in the winter where many of the residents were winter visitors and old friends.
The park is open to the public without a fee and is located between 14th and 20th streets on Pinellas Point.
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