Maximo Park
Maximo Park, owned and operated by the City of St. Petersburg, was built on an ancient Indian mound still visible in the southern end of the park. This park offers both a sandy beach for launching and a boat ramp that accesses Frenchman’s Creek. There can be heavy motorized boat traffic from this site, especially on the weekends.
From this park, it is an easy paddle south to Indian Key, part of the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge (PNWR), where you can view numerous shorebirds and mangrove crabs. The area surrounding the refuge contains large quantities of seagrasses, contributing to the high numbers of fish, dolphins and manatees in the area.
Frenchman’s Creek is also known to have large numbers of manatees, especially in the winter months. Tarpon Key is the next large island south of Indian Key and, as part of the PNWR, offers paddlers additional wildlife viewing opportunities.
Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges
City of St. Petersburg Parks Department: (727) 893-7335