St. Pete is home to more than 150 parks, offering a wide variety of possible activities. There are over 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. But that’s not all! We also have 76 tennis courts. 33 football/soccer fields, 31 baseball fields, nine volleyball courts, four historic sites, three nature preserves, and one splash pad. 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.
A significant percentage of St. Pete is bordered by water, and thanks to the influence of early leaders like then-St. Petersburg Times editor William Straub, miles of that waterfront is public park land. Of the many individual parks included in those waterfront acres, Vinoy, North Shore, and Straub (North and South) tend to get the most attention. That’s not surprising: They’re adjacent to the many entertainment offerings of downtown and provide fantastic venues for large gatherings as well as numerous areas for exercising, visiting, or simply enjoying the view. If you’re looking for smaller crowds without giving up the waterfront, St. Pete offers plenty of other options including Alfred Whitted, Lassing, Demens Landing, Pinellas Point, Tippets, Poynter, Little Bayou, Crisp, Flora Wylie, and Coffee Pot.
Make a Memory
Several parks provide fantastic spots for contemplating the view or shooting photos. If you’re a morning person, Flora Wylie, Demens Landing, Alfred Whitted, and Lassing provide unobstructed views for catching the first rays of the sun as it rises over Tampa Bay. Visitors to Pinellas Point, Tippets, or Little Bayou can enjoy the natural wonder of the protected mangroves as well as the beautiful view of the water and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, especially in the early evening when the bridge’s lights shimmer against the night sky. Poynter Park’s marina view, green space, and art installation provide a great space for a picnic and a photo shoot. If making a memory includes a frolic with your pup, then Lassing, Pinellas Point, and Tippets offer an abundance of green space for play. And if Fido doesn’t scare them away, you may also see a plethora of butterflies and waterbirds enjoying the spaces.
Small Can Be Active, Too
If you’re looking for a park that provides opportunities for getting in or on the water, then our smaller waterfront parks still can be your answer. Many of St. Pete’s waterfront parks are kayak launching points for the Pinellas County Blueways Paddling Trail, including some of our smaller venues like Demens Landing, Coffee Pot, Crisp, and Lassing. If your bigger boat also needs to launch, then the ramps at Crisp, Demens Landing or Grandview may work for you. Check with the city parks department for more specific rules and regulations. On-shore activities more your thing? Then look no further than the exercise zone at Crisp Park, the playgrounds at Coffee Pot and Crisp, or the many fishing options available at these smaller, but still publicly accessible, waterfront parks.
For information about waterfront parks or any other of St. Pete’s many other parks, visit www.stpeteparksrec.org or call (727) 893-7441.
