Safety Harbor Spring
Pinellas County

Summary of Features

Scale—6th magnitude
Scenery—fine
How Pristine?—water piped for city fountain 
Swimming—no
Protection—unknown 
Access—excellent to fountain and site of original spring flow
Facilities—none
Safety—excellent 
Scuba—no 
Cost—free
 
Directions
In downtown Safety Harbor at the edge of Safety Harbor in upper Old Tampa Bay. Most of the springs are underneath the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa at the end of Main Street where it meets Bayshore Drive. The fountain is across Bayshore and one block south of the Resort and Spa by the Marina Park Fountain and marina.

For maps, latitude/longitude data, driving directions, satellite imagery, and topographic representations as well as weather conditions at this spring, go to Greg Johnson's informative "Florida Springs Database" web site at the following address:  http://www.ThisWaytothe.Net/springs/floridasprings.htm#Florida
 
View of fountain with original 
spring site in background
Original spring site
Spring Description
The spring is located in the front yard of a private residence along Bayshore (a few feet from the street), across the street from the Marina Park Fountain. This unnamed spring is covered with a steel lid. The author could find no historical information about this particular spring, which for many years was piped a short distance into Safety Harbor at the marina. In 2001, the town of Safety Harbor tapped water from this spring and existing pipe for use in the new Marina Park Fountain. When visited by the author in July 2002, the attractive fountain was operating. A park staff person said the high mineral contents of the spring were filtered so as not to clog the fountain with mineral deposits.

According to a story about the fountain in the St. Petersburg Times (Tucker, May 18, 2001), it was estimated that the spring flow would take two days to fill the 8,700 fountain pool. If this is an accurate calculation of the spring's flow, its discharge is about 4,350 gallons per day or 3 gallons per minute--6th magnitude flow. Traditionally, the spring flowed a short distance--perhaps 200 feet--into Safety Harbor.

Use/Access

The spring is tapped for the Marina Park Fountain. Presumably, the excess water is piped into Safety Harbor, but the author did not confirm this and the water may be used for other purposes.

Nearby Springs

Philippe Spring
Salt Spring
Indian Spring
Wall Spring
Tarpon Spring

Espiritu Santo Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features
Honeymoon Island State Park
Anclote Key State Preserve
Chassahowitzka River National Wildlife Refuge