Rose Park
Welcome to the Atlantic Beach Turtle Crawl! If this is the first turtle you’ve found, there are 23 others scattered throughout our park system, in places of historic significance, and even in some unexpected locations. If you’re up for a scavenger hunt to find every turtle on our Turtle Crawl, you can find a map HERE.
The Gopher Tortoise is an endangered species of tortoise named after its habitat of burrowing. Due to habitat loss, there is only an estimated 700,000 individuals left worldwide. Gopher Tortoises are considered a commensal species because their burrows are often homes and protection for more than 350 high priority Florida species. If you’re lucky you may see a Gopher Tortoise in the sand dunes of Atlantic Beach. Due to their endangered status, it is illegal to touch Gopher Tortoises or to disturb their burrows.
Located at the intersection of Rose Street and Orchid Street, Rose Park was designated as park land when platted in the 1930's. While residential development began to occur around the park in the mid-1980's, it remained a vacant, passive park with no recreational facilities. In 1987, the City Commission named the small triangular park “The Adele Grage Park” after long time city clerk, Adele Grage. However, this name did not stick, and the park became known as Rose Park shortly after.
In 2001, with funding from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, the city expanded the park with the purchase of six lots to be used as a recreational field. The city also installed the first playground equipment at the park in the area currently used as a dog park. In 2010, led by former Commissioner Daugherty, major renovations to Rose Park were included in the 2010 Strategic Plan. In 2013, a portion of Orchid Street was closed off and incorporated into the park which facilitated the
construction of new playground equipment, a multi-use field, a pavilion and the new dog park. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on December 14, 2013, to celebrate the expanded and renovated Rose Park.