Safety Harbor 'Treasure' to Have Park Dedicated in Her Honor

Nadine Nickeson doesn’t know the meaning of the word "retired." 

The former city commissioner’s schedule consists of mentoring students at Countryside High School every week; ongoing obligations to the Kiwanis Club; organizing events like the Treasures of the Harbor award ceremony; and volunteering to help keep coastlines clean. 

Nickeson does know how to relax; she often goes on business trips with her physician husband, and she finds time to read a good book now and again. But giving back is what makes her happy.

“I enjoy contributing to the community,” the 62-year-old says. “This stuff is all on my own time. I’m not punching a clock for anybody.” 

Though her official obligations to the city were completed following her final term in office in 2009, Nickeson has remained a fixture in the community through her countless volunteer efforts. 

And those efforts have not gone unnoticed by current city officials. 

"We overlapped on the commission for a year," Vice Mayor Joe Ayoub said. "But even when she was off the commission, I noticed she was involved in everything. And I mean everything."

"A lot of people serve, and then they disappear," he added. "She didn't disappear. She's everywhere."

So at the conclusion of last week’s city commission meeting, Ayoub announced a proposal to honor Nickeson's years of tireless service by dedicating the new park on Phillipe Parkway in honor of Nickeson. 

“I thought this might be a good opportunity … for us to dedicate the park to a resident who in my mind completely exemplifies outstanding community service,” Ayoub told the commission. 

He listed some of the numerous organizations Nadine is involved with, including the Garden Club, Kiwanis, the Women’s Club, the Library Foundation and the Tampa Bay Estuary committee, among others. 

“She attends county meetings even though she doesn’t have to be there … and she never asks for anything in return and never wants recognition,” Ayoub added. 

“So I suggest we dedicate the Mullet Creek Park to Nadine Nickeson.” 

The motion received unanimous support from the other commissioners.

Nickeson says she was floored when she found out about the honor.

“The next day I got an email from (City Manager) Matt (Spoor) and I was blown away,” she recalls. “It’s a huge honor for me, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.” 

While touring the park site, which should be finished in about a month, Nickeson marveled over the property, which will feature special beds for the garden club and serve as a “beautiful gateway to the city.” 

After helping facilitate numerous projects that ushered in a new era of growth in Safety Harbor, from the waterfront and downtown redevelopments to the new community center and expansion of the library, Nickeson is pleased with the direction the city is heading.

And even though she is officially retired and will soon have a local park dedicated in her name, she shows no signs of slowing down. 

“I tell my garden club girls, when I hit 80, you might not see me around as much anymore,” she jokes.

“But then I see some of the girls there are in their 90s, so I say, 'Why not?'”

Editor's note: The original version of this article listed Nadine's age as sixty-four. She is actually sixty-two years old. We regret the error.