β­• Historic Uptown

Historic Round Lake Park

A small, historic downtown park built around a perfectly round lake β€” which used to actually be three separate ponds.

TypeLeashed only
Best forA quiet, short loop
Leashed onlyHistoric districtShaded loop

πŸ•°οΈ History & background

An 1888 plat of the area identified this lake as "Deep Water Lake," sitting alongside two smaller neighbors called Long Pond and Grass Pond β€” likely a set of sinkhole ponds fed by groundwater rather than a single natural lake. By 1908, the three had been consolidated into one and renamed Park Lake; the city's park commission later reshaped its marshy edges into the tidy round shoreline seen today, following a 1913 newspaper's call to "remove the unsightly marshy places" and create a proper "beauty spot." The result is one of the more deliberately designed small parks in the city, still shaped by a century-old piece of civic landscaping.

πŸ• What's there now

A quiet, low-key leashed loop tucked into one of St. Pete's oldest neighborhoods, ringed by a shaded walking path and a classic gazebo. Mature oaks, palms, and a large banyan shade most of the walk.

πŸ—ΊοΈ Nearby

Worth a stop: Bad Mother, a well-loved pour-over coffee shop a short walk away in downtown St. Pete.

See the full guide Park rules
Before you go: Hours, rules, and amenities can change. This page reflects the most recent information we have β€” always check on-site signage or the operator's website to confirm before visiting.