NORTH REDINGTON BEACH — What used to be known as Gulf Park at 16900 Gulf Blvd. in North Redington Beach was renamed Bill Queen Park with a dedication ceremony Nov. 12.

A plaque reading “Dedicated to Mayor Bill Queen in honor of 25 years of service to North Redington Beach” now welcomes visitors to the park on the post of a picnic shelter at the entrance to the beach.

Queen has spent his life in public service, retiring as deputy sheriff after 31 years with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in 2004, and then on to 25 years of municipal service for the town of North Redington Beach until he resigned as mayor in February 2025.

In the early 1980s, Queen started up his jet-ski business in North Redington Beach, Wind Surfin’ International, which he sold in 2007. It was as a business owner that Queen began participating more in town matters. By the year 2000, he was serving as chair on the Planning and Zoning Board and, over time had served on the Beach Advisory Board as well. Back in 1997, Queen was awarded Citizen of the Year from the town of North Redington Beach.

Another former North Redington Beach mayor who also served for decades and for whom a town park is named, Harold Radcliffe, was mayor at the time Queen first served as a commissioner in 2004. When Radcliffe retired in 2005, Queen ran for the office and was elected mayor for 10 consecutive terms.

In June 2024, Queen was recognized with the John Land Service Award from the Florida League of Cities that is presented to elected officials who have served in excess of 20 years in a Florida municipality. In February 2025 Queen received an award in recognition of his service as mayor from the Barrier Island Government Council.

Highlights of Queen’s 20 years as mayor include the two beach renourishment projects, undergrounding utility projects in the side and back streets of the town, and planning the new fire station/public works building currently under construction. In a recent interview, Queen said that what he “liked best about being mayor was the problem solving and helping people.”

Born in Atlanta, Queen was 5 years old when his father relocated the family to Seminole. As a graduate of Seminole High School, Queen is a semi-native if ever there was one. When Queen sold his home in North Redington Beach and moved to Seminole last February, that made him no longer qualified as a resident of the town to remain on the Board of Commissioners, necessitating him to resign his post as mayor.

However, Queen’s life has come full circle with his return to Seminole and the start of his retirement. “I go to the gym, have lunch with friends, and look forward to traveling with my wife.”

Queen’s wife, Vicki, is a nurse, and she plans to retire next year, making it possible for the couple to take more trips together.

“Having this park named after me is so special because it’s where my wife and I got married in 2011,” said Queen.