Day & Night Magazine 2015-16 New Smyrna Beach | Page 39

Welcome
to New Smyrna Beach!
If you’re on vacation you’re no doubt staying
in one of the over 6200 units available for
accommodations. Most are condominiums with
several hotels and motels plus bed and breakfast
inns and single family houses along the ocean
and riverfront. We hope your stay with us is most
enjoyable and that you’ll return again.

A Brief History...

Smyrna Dunes Park

Early history of the area now know as New
Smyrna Beach dates back to as early as 2000
B.C. when Timucuan Indians inhabited most of
this area of what is now Florida. In 1763 New
Smyrna became a British Crown Colony with
land grants offered to those wanting to establish
a settlement here. But those early pioneers
were besieged by many problems including the
Seminole Indians who didn’t officially end the
war until 1842. After that period of unrest the
river brought settlers via steamboats. By the end
of the Civil War the population grew in rapid
numbers. By 1880 New Smyrna had its first
school and church and by 1887 the town was
incorporated.
In the following few years the birth of the
Florida East Coast Railroad, the Ponce Inlet
Lighthouse and even the North Causeway Bridge
(an earlier version) were a reality.
New Smyrna Beach shares it’s ancestry with
several Florida cities for its history including
St. Augustine. A city today of over 19,000 is
a thriving tourist center where permanent
residents enjoy tranquil living year round in a
semi-tropical climate.

Smyrna Dunes Park is located at Ponce Deleon Inlet
and can be enjoyed by taking North Peninsula along
the river. Open at 7 a.m. until local sunset. The park
was developed with the assistance of a Florida
Recreational Development program grant from the
Department of Natural Resources.
Boardwalks lead park visitors over the sand dunes
and through areas of heavy vegetation. There
are botanical signs located along the walkway to
identify natural flora. A complete circuit of the main
boardwalk is 7500 feet or almost a mile and a half.
Off the main boardwalk, a stairway takes visitors to
an observation tower, along the way the way there
are many rest areas.
Although there is no admission toenter the park, a
nominal $3.50 is required per vehicle.

Tennis Courts
Detwiler Park Five hard surfaced tennis courts
located at Horton Street and Oakwood Avenue
on the beachside, lighted.
Pettis Park Two hard courts located at Milford
and Mary Ave. on the west side of town, lighted.

Parks & Recreation
1. All the City tennis and racquetball courts are open
to the public on a first come first serve basis unless
otherwise scheduled by the Recreation Department.
2. There are no court fees during daylight hours.
3. Lights: Most of the tennis courts are lighted for
night play at no charge. Please turn the lights off
when play is completed.
4. Please observe all court regulations as posted.
5. Court time is limited to one hour for singles and
doubles when others are waiting.
6. No tennis professionals may make use of the courts
for private lessons with out permission from the
recreation department.
7. All tournaments must be scheduled with the
recreation department prior to play.
8. Please report any damages to the recreation
department immediately.
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