Palm Coast celebrates like it's 1999

The city held its 25th anniversary celebration with speeches, food trucks, bounce houses for the kids and, of course, cake.

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How did Palm Coast celebrate its silver anniversary? With cake. Quilts for community heroes. A living time capsule that will be displayed, not buried. A band with a repertoire that included some hits from the ’60’s — a time before ITT Corporation even conceived of the massive development in Flagler County that would become Palm Coast.

The city held its 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Central Park at Town Center. The event also included a spacious kids zone with a variety of bounce houses and local food trucks for all ages. Two beer gardens were sponsored by the Flagler County Cultural Council. City staff sat at tables around the lake explaining city services and touching on Palm Coast's history.

The city was actually incorporated on Dec. 31,1999, but a Founder’s Day event is typically held on the last Saturday of October, so this year the city decided to combine Founder’s Day with the 25th anniversary celebration, explained Palm Coast Historical Society President Kathy Reichard-Ellavsky.

“So we’re celebrating the early days of our founding from 1970, and then also the transition to becoming a city in 1999,” she said.

On a large stage with a backdrop mural of Flagler County, Mayor David Alfin traced the history of Palm Coast beginning when ITT mapped out 48,000 home sites in the 1970s.

“Today we mark a remarkable journey — 25 years of growth, progress and the creation of a unique, thriving city that over 100,000 of us now proudly call home,” he said.

Former City Council member Cathy Heighter, the founder of Remembering Heroes, presented quilts to 12 community heroes. The quilts symbolized the dedication of individuals in public safety, education and community service: Michelle Bridges and Marty Feidler of the Disabled American Veterans Auxillary; Michele Gordon of I Just Want To Say Women’s Group; Lisa Byer, who received recognition as a caregiver; Reichard-Ellavsky; Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Detective Kathryn Gordon; Palm Coast firefighter Kalin Kelly; Peggy Hengeveld, president of Flagler County Chapter of the Military Officer Association of America; Trish Giaccone, chief executive officer of the Family Life Center; Ophelia Byers of the American Legion; Erica Flores, founder of Vincent’s Clubhouse; and FCSO Chief David Williams.

Reichard-Ellavsky noted that Hurricane Floyd delayed the referendum for home rule 25 years ago. But days later, on Sept. 14, 1999, the vote took place with more than 60% of the 12,000 voters who cast ballots voting yes. A final mayor and City Council election was held two months later.

“Palm Coast is not just a city,” Alfin said in concluding his speech. “It’s a home where safety, opportunity and respect thrive for all of us, now and for generations to come. Happy 25th Anniversary, Palm Coast!”

Alfin and other City Council members then unveiled the living time capsule. The glass-encased time capsule included a newspaper clipping about Palm Coast's first City Council meeting; a campaign button for Jim Canfield, Palm Coast's first mayor; photographs; a plastic flying disc celebrating the city's first five years; and an ITT promotional pamphlet featuring Garfield the cat, Palm Coast's mascot during the 1980’s.

The time capsule will be displayed at various city facilities, beginning at the Palm Coast Community Center.

Birthday cake was then served, and, to borrow a song lyric, residents partied like it was 1999.

MAYOR ALFIN'S SPEECH

I believe that a city is not determined by its boundaries or by the asphalt on its roads and the lights on its streets. Instead, it is determined by the hearts of the citizens who reside within.

On this 26th day of October 2024, we gather as one community, united in celebration. Today, we mark a remarkable journey—25 years of growth, progress, and the creation of a unique, thriving city that over 100,000 of us now proudly call home.

Palm Coast’s story began in the 1970s when ITT Corporation envisioned a planned community along a quiet stretch of I-95 at mile marker 91C. They mapped out 48,000 home sites across 68,000 acres, laying the foundation with paved roads, central water and sewer systems, fire protection, and drainage management that included 46 miles of freshwater canals and 23 miles of saltwater canals.

Our city’s rise continued. In 1979, we saw the construction of the iconic water tower. Boating, golf, and tennis began to define Palm Coast as a community of recreation and leisure.

By 1985, after enduring two devastating wildfires, Palm Coast needed a new symbol of hope. That’s when Garfield, the beloved cartoon cat, became our unexpected mascot, inviting people from across the country to “live the good life” here in Palm Coast.

In 1999 the community took a major leap forward when the citizens voted to officially incorporate Palm Coast as a city. This was a pivotal moment, one intended to enhance the quality of life for everyone who chose to make this paradise their home.

With incorporation came our first elected leaders: a Mayor and City Council to guide policy, and a City Manager to carry out those directives.

Over the past 25 years, Palm Coast has continued to flourish. We’ve launched transformative projects like the Palm Coast Greenway, preserving environmentally sensitive lands along Linear Park and the St. Joe Walkway. We purchased Florida Water Services to ensure our utility and water systems could meet the needs of a growing population, and we acquired the Palm Coast Community Service Corporation to better manage our drainage infrastructure.

Safety has always been a priority. We’ve built new fire stations to ensure rapid emergency response, redeveloped the historic Palm Harbor Golf Course, and created a new Southern Recreation Center for pickleball and tennis enthusiasts. We’ve expanded Holland Park, adding a splash pad for our youngest residents, and upgraded the Indian Trails Sports Complex, establishing Palm Coast as a premier destination for youth sports tournaments.

Palm Coast is now known as a regionally awarded, environmentally conscious city, recognized for our commitment to green building and sustainability initiatives. And, over the past 25 years, our community has become a rich tapestry of more than 100 culturally distinct nationalities. Diversity is our strength, and it’s a cornerstone of what makes our city so special.

I stand before you today filled with pride for how far we’ve come. Palm Coast is not just a city—it’s a home where safety, opportunity, and respect thrive for all of us, now and for generations to come. Happy 25th Anniversary, Palm Coast!

 

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