ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – It was a picture-perfect day for a park opening and members of the Mussallem family gathered with elected officials and staff from St. Johns County to dedicate Mussallem Beachfront Park on Friday, April 11.
With brand new facilities including a shower, restrooms, pavilion, corn hole, a scenic overlook, and an ADA walking trail, the park’s amenities are in line with the continued park improvements being made throughout St. Johns County.
Nestled on State Road A1A, there is access to the beach and free parking for residents and visitors. A pedestrian activated crosswalk helps ensure safety along the busy coastal corridor.
Opened in 2021 as a passive park, the 8-acre property located at 3365 Coastal Highway just north of Vilano Beach, was acquired through a grant with the Florida Communities Trust.
Pride In Their Work
Heather Hilley, project manager for St. Johns County Public Works was proud to see the project come to fruition for the enjoyment of the residents.
“It already well loved, well used, and who doesn’t love coming to the beach and having more places to park at the beach?” asked Hilley.
“(The crosswalk) is an incredible added value. While I was out here doing my project manager job you just watch people go back and forth, and we actually had a light out on the far side, a maintenance thing. Our traffic division maintains that signal in an agreement with FDOT, so we have our SJC Connect app, I just went on there, and submitted a service request and they were out here in a short amount of time.”
“It’s nice being able to locally serve the residents that need it the most. That light, you can see it blinking from far away, and it’s necessary,” she said.
A Legacy for the Community
Surrounded by husband Jim Byles and daughter Olivia, lifelong resident Marcia Mussallem Byles was thrilled to see her family, especially her father Edward Mussallem who passed away in 2021, honored in such a way, that continued their family’s legacy of giving back to St. Johns County community.
“My dad was very active in the community. He was the former Mayor of St. Augustine, a city commissioner, he was on was the Port & Waterway Authority for many years, Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Lightner Museum for over 40 years, he also was the chairman of the Blessing of the Fleet. He did that for probably 35 to 40 years. We grew up here. My grandfather came here in 1905. So, we’ve been here ever since,” shared Mussallem Byles.
Mussallem Byles’ grandfather Abraham S. Mussallem, purchased Villa Zorayda in 1913, turning it into a museum in 1933, and showcasing the historic district’s architecture and preserving the artifacts housed within the attraction. The Villa Zorayda has been in the family for more than a century.
“We all grew up here, attended local schools,” said Mussallem Byles.
“My dad was very active. He always envisioned here a walkover down to the Intracoastal and a walkover to the beach. It’s just very exciting and very humbling that they have this park here now for future generations to enjoy. All the facilities they built here are so nice, for families, so his legacy will continue on into the future,” she said.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS BELOW AND FEATURE PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST JOEY PELLEGRINO
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Florida, April 15, 2025 –On April 11, St. Johns County celebrated the renovation of Mussallem Beachfront Park (3365 Coastal Highway, St. Augustine) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to commemorate the event.
District 4 Commissioner and Board of County Commissioners Chair Krista Joseph, District 5 Commissioner Ann Taylor, and District 3 Commissioner Clay Murphy attended the ceremony, along with various St. Johns County administrators and staff and several Vilano Beach area locals.
“This property holds a special place in St. Johns County’s story,” Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Jamie Baccari said. “Mussallem Beachfront Park reflects both our community’s history and a vision for the future.”
The renovation added expanding parking, restrooms, changing rooms, cornhole, a walking trail, and an overlook of the nearby marsh.
“This is a $1.5 million investment, and it’s a reflection of our Board’s commitment to expanding the public’s access to the natural beauty that makes St. Johns County so special,” Chair Joseph said.
“Mussallem Beachfront Park has always been a little gem tucked away between the ocean and the marsh, and today we get to see it shine even brighter,” Commissioner Taylor said.
The legacy of the park’s namesake, former St. Augustine Mayor Edward “Eddy” Mussallem, was highlighted, and his daughter, Marcia Mussallem Byles, was present with other family members for the ceremony.
