Crescent Lake Dog Park

Crescent Lake Park opened in 1927, championed by developer Perry Snell, who assembled the land parcel by parcel until the city was able to buy it. The crescent-shaped lake at its center sits inside one of St. Petersburg's oldest platted neighborhoods, with homes nearby dating to the 1920s. South of the lake is Huggins-Stengel Field, which served as the New York Yankees' spring training home starting in 1925 — Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle both played there before it later hosted the Mets. Beside the field stands a 1923 water tower, one of the oldest landmarks in the city, repainted by local muralist Tom Stovall as a giant saltwater aquarium and now one of the most photographed spots in the neighborhood. The park still hosts the St. Petersburg Arts Festival and the International Folk Fair every year.

Mature shade trees, benches, and old banyan trees give Crescent Lake Dog Park a settled, neighborhood feel that's more gathering place than gym. Regulars show up at the same times most days, and the crowd tends to know each other's dogs by name.