St. Pete is home to more than 150 parks, offering a wide variety of possible activities. There are more than 100 picnic areas, 80 playgrounds, 44 miles of fitness trails, 30 basketball courts, 21 boat ramps, 11 softball fields, six dog parks, five beaches, three skate parks, two disc-golf courses, and one jai-alai court. We also have 76 tennis courts. 33 football/soccer fields, 31 baseball fields, nine volleyball courts, four historic sites, three nature preserves, and numerous splash pads. And, still, there’s more! Simply put, choose an activity (or choose to just relax) and there’s a city park that fits your needs.
Beginning with City Park (today’s Williams Park) in the late 19th century and expanding to the waterfront in the early 20th century, St. Petersburg’s parks have a long history of providing patrons with a variety of amenities. Today, St. Pete can boast more than 150 city parks and numerous Pinellas County parks. According to the Trust for Public Land, 77 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. Offerings vary, and often include picnic areas, playgrounds, and fitness trails. St. Pete also has parks with boat ramps, beaches, splash pads, nature preserves, historic sites, and disc-golf courses. Dogs and skaters even have their own parks. Throughout the community, parks provide numerous tennis courts, basketball courts, football/soccer fields, softball/baseball fields, volleyball courts, and even a jai-alai court. The Parks & Recreation Department also offers classes, service projects, camps, and numerous after-school educational programs. Choose an activity, or choose to relax, and there’s a park or recreation center that fits your needs.
“Gone Fishing”
Water is a central feature in many St. Pete parks. With more than 80 lakes, the city has an abundance of shoreline fishing opportunities, although not all offer year-round activity. Popular spots such as Booker Creek, Childs Park Lake, and Crescent Lake are open for fishing only in the summer. Numerous other parks do provide locals and visitors a variety of freshwater and saltwater spots throughout the year. Those include the saltwater lakes at Bartlett Park and Fossil Park, and freshwater opportunities at Walter Fuller Lake, Lake Maggiore, Lake Eli (also known as Little Lake Maggiore), and Mirror Lake. Radiating out from Mirror Lake’s downtown location to Walter Fuller to the west, Fossil Park to the north, and Lake Maggiore and Bartlett Park’s Salt Creek to the south, they offer easy access from almost anywhere in the city and a variety of environments and sizes. For exact park locations or for information regarding shoreline fishing, contact the department at (727) 893-7441 or visit www.stpeteparksrec.org/parks.
“If the Fish Don’t Bite”
As the song says, “A bad day of fishin’ beats a good day of anything else.” Locals will attest that St. Pete is a great place to fish. Lakes are often stocked, and nature encourages abundant local spawning. Anglers are encouraged to be thoughtful toward other park guests and the surrounding neighborhoods. This consideration includes things like cleaning your catch at home, using provided trash containers, and removing any litter you may create. Hopefuls should fish only from the shore or from designated fishing docks and remember not to encroach on private property or create excessive noise. Park visitors should obey all posted signs and guidelines. For example, cast netting is permitted only at Lake Maggiore and Lake Eli (Little Lake Maggiore); no crab traps are allowed in any city lake.
Following the rules helps to maintain the city’s lakes. For information about licensing and limits, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at www.myfwc.com/license/
