Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park is a City of Stuart park in the East Stuart neighborhood of Stuart. It is a passive park, meant for sitting, picnicking, and gathering rather than organized sports.

The park began as Lincoln Park. It was one of the first three public parks in the City of Stuart, along with Woodside and Belle Flora. The land was set aside on the Lincoln Park Subdivision plat, which was filed by a clerk of the Bank of Stuart who was also a founding member of the city’s Board of Trade. The plat was originally split by the Florida East Coast Railway line, which still runs along the neighborhood.

The park sits inside the East Stuart Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district is bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 10th Street, Tarpon Avenue, and the FEC Railway tracks.

The park has a covered picnic area, and the pavilion can be used for gatherings. The MLK Pavilion measures 18 by 24 feet and carries a $55 rental fee. Pavilions in Stuart city parks are first come, first served, and a permit may be required depending on the type of event. Wheelchair accessible parking and a wheelchair accessible entrance are provided.

The park is part of the area around the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. The parade runs through East Stuart and ends with a community gathering at the Guy Davis Sports Complex.

Guy Davis Sports Complex is the nearest full recreation facility. It has three lighted basketball courts, two tennis courts, baseball, softball, soccer, and football fields, a batting cage, a playground, a concession stand, and restrooms. For more play areas in town, see the playgrounds directory.

The city is also rebuilding Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between SE Dixie Highway and SE Tarpon Avenue. The project adds shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, bike racks, high-visibility crosswalks, streetlights, and a mid-block plaza. East Stuart is a short drive from Downtown Stuart, where you can find shops and restaurants. Other things to do in Stuart are nearby.