Fred Howard Park

Fred Howard Park consists of 155 acres and is located on the Gulf of Mexico. The park was named in honor of Fred H. Howard, former Mayor of Tarpon Springs first elected to the office in 1945. Mr. Howard was a successful real estate businessman who was very civic minded.

Almost 2 million visitors enjoy the park annually. Howard Park's location provides access to the Gulf of Mexico by a 1-mile long causeway. The white sandy beach is a very popular north county swim area and also provides a perfect location for visitors to enjoy many spectacular sunsets. Nesting ospreys and eagles may be viewed by park visitors as they fish for food in the surrounding waters. Dolphins, and occasionally manatees, are seen in the area. The causeway is used for sunbathing, fishing and exercising.

Fred Howard Park protects many important and disappearing Florida habitats such as sea grass beds, wetlands, mangrove estuaries, salterns, coastal scrub, long leaf and slash pine flatwoods and turkey oak - long leaf pine sand hill. Many unusual animals inhabit Fred Howard Park including some endangered and/or threatened species, such as eagles, gopher tortoises and fox squirrels. The park also has many different kinds of butterflies and birds.