War Veterans Memorial Park — Attraction in Madeira Beach

Summary: Park does not open until 7am (gated) and BEWARE AGGRESSIVE MOSQUITOS! Canoe/kayak launch at southern end of park looks decent and there is a rinse station. Details: I'm always looking for a good place to put in my inflatable stand up paddleboard for an early morning/sunrise paddle. Alas, this park doesn't open until 7am - and there is a gate blocking entry. Fortunately, the boat ramp appears to always be open and no one was there at 6 am, so I launched from there and then paddled down to the "canoe launch" that is at the southern tip of the park. (Note: I believe there is a fee to launch from the boat ramp, but as it was 6 am on the 4th of July and I didn't plan on staying long, I took my chances and ignored the pay station. I don't know if I would recommend launching from there normally, because it appears to get quite busy later in the morning).

I took out my paddleboard at the "canoe launch" since there is a nice rinse area and I wanted to explore that part of the park. As soon as I stepped onto land, I was immediately swarmed by a large cloud of very big, very aggressive mosquitos! I ended up literally RUNNING from the rinse station to the park entrance to retrieve my car - it's the only way I could keep ahead of the mosquito swarm. Every time I slowed down to catch my breath, dozens of mosquitos landed on me and started to bite! So beware the mosquitos, I haven't experienced anything like that before. When I went back with my car to retrieve my board, I had a head to toe bug suit on with a windbreaker and waterproof pants on - still was swarmed by mosquitos but didn't get bitten thankfully as I rinsed and loaded the board into my car. Had there not been so many mosquitos I would have explored more of the park - the pavilions and facilities look really nice - but since there were so many mosquitos I headed out early. May come back to explore more in the winter when the mosquitos are gone/less aggressive.

If I come back to paddle again, I will probably launch/return to the boat launch and avoid setting foot in the park where all the mosquitos dominate. No bugs when you're out...

Extremely Disappointed with Our Experience at War Veterans Memorial Park

This past Saturday, we hosted our baby shower at War Veterans Memorial Park, specifically at Shelter #5—a place of deep personal significance to our family, as it’s where my parents (a proud Vietnam Marine and his wife) were married back in 1993. We chose this location months ago after speaking with someone from the park who assured us there would be electricity, well-maintained landscaping, and a clean environment. What we encountered was the complete opposite.

To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. We were absolutely embarrassed. This was supposed to be a joyous and memorable occasion, and instead, it became a day filled with frustration and discomfort. • No Electricity: We were promised electricity at the pavilion for music and light entertainment—there was none. This left us scrambling to change plans at the last minute and stripped away a huge part of our celebration. • Poor Grounds Maintenance: The grass was so overgrown it looked like it hadn’t been cut in weeks. The area was filled with mosquitoes, and it was clear the park does not treat for them. Our guests were being bitten constantly, and we were forced to buy and use our own foggers just to make the area bearable. • Lack of Cleanliness: There were old live bait containers and trash left around the picnic tables. We had to personally clean and wash down the area to make it even remotely usable. For a paid reservation, this is completely unacceptable. • Unreliable Staff: A park ranger initially told us he’d bring a broom to help us clean up. Not only did that never happen, but he later claimed—falsely—that someone came by and used a blower on the area. That flat-out lie added insult to injury.

This experience was not only disheartening, it was completely unworthy of the money we spent and the significance of the event we were trying to honor. We feel let down by the park staff and management, and we’d like to speak with someone directly about this experience. This is not how any family should feel after what should have been a joyful...

So blessed to have so many beautiful local parks here in Pinellas county. I Was looking for a new spot to enjoy my delicious tamales and pastries. II was so happy I found this place. Veterans memorial Park It is a beautiful chunk of paradise. Preserved on the waterway almost to St Pete Beach. Breathtaking views of our intercostal waterways. There's a double boat ramp. As you enter the park. Today it was very busy at the boat ramp was completely full and I was there around 12:30. There is a charge for the boat ramp. People were fishing along the inner coastal. They have a hiking trails and a volleyball court. And many monuments to honor our veterans. This is a county park though so there's no charge for admission. The beautiful grass areas are a perfect place to catch some rays. While enjoying the beautiful intercoastal waterways of...