Tampa Bay Area Parks

Quick Tips:

The giant Wilderness Park, a chain of six parks running along the Hillsborough River includes the Dead River, Flatwoods, John B Sargeant, Morris Bridge, Trout Creek Park, and Veterans Memorial Park. The Hillsborough River begins in Pasco County and continues its 54-mile journey in a southwesterly direction through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to Tampa Bay.

Native Americans called the river Lokcha Apopka, meaning ‘acorn eating place.’ The river obtained its current name in 1769 when British Colonial Secretary, Will Hills, Lord Earl of Hillsborough sent surveyors to report on the new colony.

Wills Hill, first Marquess of Downshire, served as Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1768–1772. In 1751 he was created Earl of Hillsborough in the Irish peerage. Isn’t irony of fate - he opposed all concessions to the American colonists but two centuries later a county in the former colony bears his name.

Many trails offer the visitors the opportunity to experience Florida’s natural scenic beauty first hand. The mosaic of colors, the diversity of plants and animal species, these are what makes the Tampa Bay parks so spectacular. Any trail you take will lead to countless opportunities to experience bird and butterfly watching, botanical exploration (take a good book with you), and the tranquility of being a part of the wonderful nature environment. In the Fall, scan the skies for falcons, hawks, and other raptors that follow the snowbirds in their migration south.

In the parks pavilions are plentiful; covered picnic areas are equipped with grills, restrooms are spotless, staff is friendly. Canoe and kayak rentals are available in the Hillsborough River parks. If you are really energetic, the area parks also offer many challenging off-road bicycle trails. I would not recommend visiting the parks if it has rained in the past 24 hours.

The hours of operation are usually sunrise to sunset. What are you waiting for?

Best Way To Get Around:

We like Davis Park and visited it many times. Usually people enter the park from 612 N. Parsons Ave; if you are walking, jogging or biking than you can use the Mook St entrance too. Davis Park at is situated on 15 acres along the Mead Lake. Tranquility rules at this Hillsborough County Park. Here you can get a great feeling of real Florida. Limited amenities create limited appeal for attendees. Well, a shelter, restrooms, open picnic area, grills in some places, and some play equipment are available. Pack a lunch and a blanket and make it a day of fun for the whole family!

As I said in the beginning, this rustic park has a lake in the middle (do not even think about entering the muddy waters!) and nearby swamp where Florida flora and fauna are abundant. The park offers a great chance to watch wildlife along the lakeshore in the center of the city. First of all, the Davis Park is a bird lover's paradise. Long-legged birds like the Egret or Heron you will see almost immediately upon your arrival. The Egrets sometimes spread their wings, creating shaded areas on the water to attract fish. I saw the Sandhill Cranes several times here. Ducks (Wood Duck, Redhead) are all over the lake. It’s fun to see how they run along the water surface to take flight. And the Gulls are here of course (the Laughing Gulls are most common).

On the dry land my favorite is the Marsh Rabbit. The animal with very small tail and short, broad ears is reddish-brown even in December. My wife’s favorite in the park is the Gopher Tortoise. A colony of Tortoises lives here for years hiding in their burrows when you come too close. They are long-lived animals (40-60 years), so you have enough time to plan your visit.

Beware of snakes, though. First of all, you may have a chance to see a water snake (banded water snake, brown water snake, green water snake). Then there are the black snake and swamp snake and… well, enough. Just watch your step.

The Brandon area has millions of mosquitoes and invisible biting sand flies (known as "no-see-ums"), especially in the lake and marshy areas, but neither insect carries malaria or other diseases. You should keep these pests at bay with a good insect repellent.

E. G. Simmons Park is a wonderful place to visit. We ‘discovered’ the park in 2000 and it remains our favorite since then. Located near Ruskin on Tampa Bay, the 469-acre park and preserve has been a popular area for outdoor enthusiasts since it opened in 1968. The mangrove shoreline, clear waters and wonderful Tampa Bay view attract thousands of visitors and gets crowded during long weekends. But even on busy weekends, the gentle waves and the natural surroundings make for a pleasant visit.

The road forks at the park’s entrance. One, to your right, runs along the North Channel. There is one picnic area near the office and small shelter in the end but no restrooms. Main road turns left and offers three major areas – first picnic area on your left followed by a nature preserve, then camping area with a small pier, campground, and a beautiful waterfront view. Finally, you arrive to the main area with the pavilions, BBQ areas, restrooms, small beach, big parking lot, and public boat ramp. Go early on weekends to get your pavilion for lunch.

A public beach on the Bay shore provides visitors with a perfect setting for swimming, while a boat launch provides access to saltwater fishing and boating. Nearby visitors will find several fishing piers and areas for bank fishing (many people come in the park to fish, either from the shore or by boating in the channels). In the Bay, snapper, sheephead, and grouper are caught but remember that Florida fishing license required and you must obey Florida regulations on size, number, season and method of take.

I also recommend bird watching among the shallow waters of the surrounding mangrove swamps. Birds are drawn to the Bay year round. Ask a ranger about the best birding spots during your stay in the park. Many endangered species like the Manatee, Roseate Spoonbill, Bald Eagle, and others may occasionally be seen at the park.

Do you like your food with music and plenty of people-watching? Twice a year the park offers exciting festivities. First one is called the Ruskin Tomato Festival and conducted in the first week of May. The festival includes "The Great Tomato Cook-off," the crowning of the Ruskin Tomato Festival Queen and of course, all-you-can-eat famous Florida tomatoes. In 2006, it was from 10am until 5pm, Saturday and Sunday.

Ruskin annual Seafood Festival runs on the first weekend of November, e.g. in 2006 November 4 and 5, Festival hours are the same - 10am to 5pm.

A breathtaking view of a sunset from the beach provides the ending to a perfect day.
Park hours: 8am–7pm.

The entrance to Lettuce Lake Park is in Temple Terrace, on 6920 E Fletcher Ave. Shallow Lettuce Lake which gave the name to the park is actually an old bay of the Hillsborough River. The lake in turn is named after a small floating plant called Water Lettuce.

The most prominent feature of the park is not the lake but a four story Observation Tower that overlooks the Hillsborough River and hardwood swamp. The boardwalks running along the river will lead you to the tower. The Hillsborough River view from the top of the top is stunning. I would recommend climbing the tower during different seasons – it is always rewarding. Both tower and boardwalk provide great opportunity for bird watching (falcon, white ibis, osprey, hawk) – bring you camera. The park is often crowded on weekends. Come here early in the morning if you can; this is the best time for viewing wildlife in the park - a few visitors and the birds are actively feeding.

Numerous signs on the boardwalk will help you to recognize wildlife. The boardwalk divided in three sections marked by the colors – Green, Blue and Yellow. Colored foot markers have been used to locate some points of interest. If you want to learn more about local wildlife than pick up a booklet in the Environment Center – it will guide you through the amazing area.

The park also features paved and off road hiking trails along the river banks, picnic areas, restrooms, playgrounds and the amazing Environmental Education Center called "Arc in the Park" maintained by the Tampa Audubon Society. In the center you will have a rear chance to touch an alligator without being hurt (well, it is made of plastic but still a good photo op). Lettuce Lake Park also offers picnic shelters about 300 yards down river from the Observation Tower.

Edward Medard Park is located on the outskirts of Plant city – on the east side of the Turkey Creek Road, east of Brandon, 1mile south of SR60.

The park has unusual history. After mining phosphate in the 1960s, the American Cyanamid Company donated the majority of this property to the County. In 1970, a dike and a control structure were built to create the 700-acre reservoir near the Alafia River. In 1972 Hillsborough County developed this site as one of its largest regional parks. Originally known as the Pleasant Grove Reservoir Park, the property was renamed the Edward Medard Park and Reservoir in 1977 to honor a District Governing Board member.

The park looks unusual too. This is the only place in Florida where you can climb a mountain. Well, it is a Florida-style mountains, called the Sacred Hills, 50 feet or so; that what remains from the phosphate excavations. But children of all ages love to climb it exploring spoil mounds from past mining activities.

Another lovely feature of the park is a 730-foot long bridge/fishing pier/boardwalk connecting two shores of the lake with 15-foot observation tower in the end of the trail. Fishing is available by boat, along the banks of reservoir and from the bridge. It is a good place to fish for largemouth bass, bream, speckled perch, channel catfish, and scrappy sunshine bass. Sunshine bass, a cross between a striped and white bass, are known to grow to an impressive 10 to 15 pounds. Anyone who has caught this prize will attest to its excellent taste. Currently, anglers are allowed to keep 20 sunshines per day, six of which can measure 24 or more inches. Fishermen say that grass shrimp, wiggler worms and night crawlers are excellent natural baits for sunshine bass.

In the park there are three distinct areas with tables, grills, restrooms and drinking water facilities. They used to have a beach too, but it was closed a few years ago. There is camping area near the lake but it was closed during our visit.

Next to the park, at 5534 Turkey Creek Rd there is a facility called Turkey Creek Stables. If you are adventurous and want to have a unique birthday party for your children – here you can rent a pony or a horse (from $15 per hour) and take your trail ride in the Medard Park.