Is Sunland Gardens safe?
Fort Pierce, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Sunland Gardens as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Sunland Gardens
“Go with care. Sunland Gardens is a quiet, working-class residential pocket in southern Fort Pierce that rarely sees severe random violent crime, but property theft and nearby commercial corridor issues are present. Visitors should lock their vehicles, stick to daytime activities, and maintain basic situational awareness.”
Local law enforcement in St. Lucie County has maintained targeted patrols around southern Fort Pierce corridors to address occasional vehicle break-ins and regional property crime.
About the area
Sunland Gardens is a modest, mid-century residential neighborhood located just south of central Fort Pierce. It is characterized by single-family ranch homes, mature trees, and quick access to US-1 and Indian River State College.
- Suburban
- Quiet
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Sunland Gardens
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 46/100
There are no bike-share programs in the immediate area, but cyclists can connect to bike lanes along Virginia Avenue heading toward the Indian River.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily owner-occupied, quiet residential blocks away from heavy traffic
- Close proximity to Indian River State College campus and local health facilities
- Significantly lower violent crime incidence than northern Fort Pierce core neighborhoods
Cons
- Above-average rates of opportunistic property crime and vehicle burglaries
- Lower median household income and pockets of aging, deferred-maintenance housing
- Limited street lighting and lack of continuous sidewalks on residential side streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets, though individuals experiencing homelessness and occasional panhandling can be observed along nearby major commercial stretches on US-1.
What Sunland Gardens is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute to work and school, making it safe for morning jogs or walks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-key neighborhood activity with delivery trucks and school traffic; generally safe and uneventful.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential streets with minimal foot traffic, though dim lighting warrants heightened awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low activity, but walking on unlit side streets is not recommended due to property theft concerns.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transportation is operated by Area Transit (ART) St. Lucie, with Route 1 and Route 4 serving nearby arterial roads such as US-1 and Virginia Avenue; there is no passenger rail service.
Street parking in the neighborhood is free and generally straightforward on residential swales, while surrounding businesses offer ample free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Sunland Gardens
- Stroll through the nearby Hallstrom Planetarium and Indian River State College campus grounds
- Visit the nearby Savannas Recreation Area for freshwater kayaking and trail walking
- Browse local nurseries and fruit stands along the nearby Old Dixie Highway corridor
Local favorites
- Taco Dive · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1240)Casual, vibrant local spot serving creative craft tacos and cold beverages just a short drive away.
- Moonswiners BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (850)Longstanding family-owned establishment dishing out classic slow-smoked pulled pork and ribs.
- Sunrise City Cafe · Breakfast & Brunch · 4.7★ (610)Cozy community diner known for hearty homestyle breakfasts, pancakes, and friendly service.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.