DeBary

DeBary is a family-oriented town located on the northern shore of the beautiful St. John’s River and is the gateway to southwestern Volusia County.

DeBary has been incorporated since December 31^st, 1993, and has a population of 21,900, with an area of 25 square miles. DeBary offers direct access to I-4 and U.S. Highway 17/92 and serves as a corridor between Orlando, Sanford, and Daytona Beach.

The City of DeBary is known for its warm and friendly hometown atmosphere. It is home to thousands of oak trees, as well as a bird sanctuary with an extensive park system and quite a few local boat ramps with access to the beloved St. Johns river! DeBary offers a diversity of lifestyles, which include upscale country clubs and championship golf courses, rural acreage with horses, tons of businesses, restaurants, bars and shopping plazas, and riverside homes! The City of DeBary holds multiple events at their local parks including their 4^th of July Celebration, Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting Ceremony, Chili Cook-off, Halloween and Christmas Lights decoration contests, Trunk or Treats, Pot Luck Dinners, yoga, plays & other recreational activities, art festivals, concerts and more! The parks located in the city range from neighborhood playgrounds and sports complexes to a massive 108-acre Nature Park that boasts a world-class 36 hole disc golf course. 

The mayor and City Council are exceptionally business-friendly and actively encourage new businesses to locate to DeBary. DeBary enjoys one of the lowest ad valorem tax rates in Volusia County. The City contracts for police, fire, and animal control, which keeps costs low while providing a high level of service. Debary Hall Historic Site was placed on the National Reister of Historic Places on July 24, 1972. DeBary is an activist community with citizens serving on a wide variety of volunteer boards and committees. The City administers a Neighborhood Watch Program and a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as well as offering presentations on subjects important in the lives of our residents. A community that emphasizes quality of life and quality of services, DeBary stands out in terms of distinctive character, charm, and resources. It’s the ultimate in small-town living with friendly citizens, sunny climate, and an open-door City Council; a town that is progressive, yet has retained its unique southern charm. 

Spotlights:

Parks

• Gemini Springs: named for its free-flowing twin springs, with full recreational activities. Large dog park, playground for children, a massive field where events take place as well as a wooden cabin venue for private events. Multiple trails for walking your dogs, hiking and biking, grills for picnics, fishing spots and so much more! Events are held here for the holidays such as movies in the park, holiday festivities, festivals, and more.
• Gateway Center of the Arts: playground, trails, and event space that conducts several theatrical performances, art festivals, Youth Celebration of the Arts, concerts by the Gateway Orchestra, corporate meetings, city meetings, yoga in the park, and other private events like races, food trucks, farmers markets, sports tournaments, festivals and more.
• Memorial Park: 2.5-acre passive park with picnic pavilions, an F-15A Eagle airplane, a 9-ton anchor from the USS Langley.
• Rob Sullivan Community Park: largest sports park in surrounding cities and named for a former Council Member who was instrumental in the early development of the City’s park system. Playgrounds, multiple fields for baseball, softball, kickball, soccer, football, the city’s summer camp activities, a concession stand, a basketball court, a playground, and more. 
• Bill Keller Park: Another baseball and softball field with three fields, a large basketball court, a large playground where many people host events like birthday parties, a tennis court, trails, and more. DeBary Babe Ruth baseball and softball games are held at both Rob Sullivan and Bill Keller parks, along with all the City sports programs. DeBary Parks Recreation Department offers a wide variety of recreation programs to the children and youth of our community, as well as activities for adults!
• Boat Ramps: Highbanks, Lake Monroe (right at the entrance of DeBary from Sanford)

Schools:

• DeBary Elementary
• Riverside preschool

DeBary Neighborhoods:

DeBary Neighborhood Report