Coquina Key Dog Park
Laid-back and rarely crowded, on an island with one of the more colorful backstories in St. Petersburg.
🕰️ History & background
Coquina Key sits on a man-made island with one of the more colorful backstories in St. Petersburg. It started out as "Lewis Island," purchased in 1910 by local grocer and banker Edson Lewis, who platted a subdivision and then gave up by 1913 when the spot proved too remote, with no utilities in reach. What had been a peninsula became an actual island in the early 1920s, after developer Charles Hall — the same Hall behind the Kenwood neighborhood — dredged a channel through it. The Mackle brothers bought most of the land in 1955 and built out today's neighborhood; a 1957 community contest gave the island its current name, replacing the interim nickname "Goat Island." Longtime residents still call it "The Friendly Island."
🐕 What's there now
Benches and drinking fountains serve both large and small dogs in a setting that feels more nature preserve than city park. A small dock next door is popular for fishing or launching a kayak once your dog has had its run.
🗺️ Nearby
Worth a stop: in-neighborhood favorites Munch's Diner, Mullets Fish Camp, and Southside Coffee, all a short walk from the park with casual outdoor seating where leashed dogs are welcome.