Weaver Park Celebrates Emotional Grand Opening

Hundreds turned out March 27 for the grand opening of they city’s newest waterfront jewel, J.C. Weaver Park.

The park, at 1249 Bayshore Blvd., has about 400 feet of waterfront property overlooking St. Joseph Sound. A pier extends just more than 720 feet into the water, where a viewer can see the historical western entrance of the town and Caledesi and Honeymoon Islands. The other side of the park borders Pinellas Trail and has a small parking area, bicycle racks and picnic tables.

“I’ll never forget the night this offer was made,” said Josiah Cephas Weaver, the park’s namesake, in a speech to the crowd. Weaver sold the property to the city in 2008. It opened on Dec. 30.

“[People said] ‘Josie, don’t give up your home.’ I said, ‘If I’m goin’, I’m goin’ all the way … for the people of Dunedin’.”