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Check out the latest news and upcoming event information from the St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department.



AARP Fitlot at Booker Creek

PRESCRIBED BURN AT BOYD HILL NATURE PRESERVE

UPDATE: Due to changing weather conditions, the prescribed fire scheduled for Friday, May 6, at 10:30 a.m., has been canceled.

St. Petersburg, FL (May 2022) – The US Forest Service, along with the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve staff, are conducting a prescribed fire at the preserve on Friday, May 6, beginning around 10:30 a.m. and will be conducted in unit 10 of the preserve, assuming favorable weather conditions. The prescribed fire was previously scheduled for Thursday, May 5, but, due to the shift in weather conditions, it was rescheduled.

AARP Fitlot at Booker Creek

HEALTHY ST. PETE PROVIDES FREE CLASSES AT THE FIRST AARP FITLOT FITNESS PARK IN THE NATION

St. Petersburg, FL (December 2021) – Healthy St. Pete—a City of St. Petersburg initiative and a division of the St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department—launches free classes at the AARP FitLot Fitness Park at Booker Creek Park, 2300 13th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, beginning Wednesday, December 15.

The Booker Creek Park’s AARP FitLot Fitness Park was the first of 53 free fitness parks developed across the nation with the goal of making our community a healthier and better place to live for people of all ages. The park features stationary equipment that can be adapted to meet a wide range of fitness levels and abilities.

Healthy St. Pete is launching free introductory classes and weekly sessions that aim to increase access to physical fitness activities, encourage community and neighborhood connection, and help the community reach their health and wellness goals.

Lassing Park Sign

LASSING PARK'S LIVING SHORELINE

St. Petersburg, FL (December 2021) – The City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Watch, is kicking off the living shoreline project at Lassing Park, Beach Dr. SE & 18th Ave. S., on Wednesday, December 15, at 9 a.m.

The proposed project is designed to help stabilize approximately 700 ft. of severely eroding shoreline. It’s also providing hard bottom habitats for fish and wildlife resources and promoting water quality improvements in the Tampa Bay ecosystem.

Holiday Lights on trees

HOLIDAYS IN THE SUNSHINE CITY 2021

We're excited to celebrate the holiday season with the annual Holidays in the Sunshine City starting Saturday, November 27, with the annual Tree Lighting in North Straub Park, followed by several holiday happenings throughout December.

Cans of soup

CANNED FOOD DRIVE

Give back to your community! Donate nonperishable items to Gladden Park Recreation Center's Canned Food Drive from November 1 - 24.
All items will be donated to a local food bank for those in need.
The Canned Food Drive is hosted by the center's Teen Program. For more information, contact the center at 727-551-3271.

Field of Screens Sign

FACE YOUR FEARS AT FIELD OF SCREAMS

St. Petersburg, FL (October 2021) – Are you ready to face your deepest fears? St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department’s Teen Arts, Sports and Cultural Opportunities (TASCO) Division is back with its 15th Annual Field of Screams on Friday, October 29, through Monday, November 1, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3010 31st St. S., located on Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

Pioneer Village Buildings

THE ANNUAL AUTUMN HARVEST FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE PINELLAS PIONEER SETTLEMENT

St. Petersburg, FL (September 2021) – Celebrate the fall season at the Annual Autumn Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 2900 31st St. S., St. Petersburg, at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

Enoch Davis Recreation Center Building

ENOCH DAVIS RECREATION CENTER IS CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

St. Petersburg, FL (September 2021) – The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department’s Enoch Davis Recreation Center, 1111 18th Ave. S., is celebrating four decades of services to the St. Petersburg community on Saturday, Sept. 18, with two events: Pamper St. Pete from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and An Evening of Gratitude starting at 5 p.m.

Boyd Hill Trail

PARKS & RECREATION BINGO

It's Parks & Recreation Month! Take some time out of your day or spend the weekend exploring the St. Petersburg's parks and recreation system. Check out our bingo card for some new places to discover or visit some of your favorite Sunshine City spots.

Storm Update

STORM ELSA UPDATES

Update 7-6-2021 at 11:30 a.m.:
Due to the storm, public City facilities and operations will close at noon today, July 6, and remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday, July 7. Normal City operations will resume Thursday, July 8.

Childcare programming will remain open until close of business today, July 6, and will remain closed tomorrow, July 7. Childcare programming will resume on Thursday, July 8.


Update 7-5-2021 at 8:00 p.m.:
All City summer camps are open tomorrow, July 6; however, all programs after 5 p.m. tomorrow are canceled.
Sign up for storm alerts at stpeteprepares.com.

Waterfront Park

ST. PETE RANKS NO. 1 IN FLORIDA AND 14 IN U.S. FOR PARK SYSTEMS

The City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department’s emphasis on preserving and enhancing parkland and providing engaging recreational opportunities for all who live, work and play in the Sunshine City did not go unnoticed by The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit with a mission to “create parks and protect land for people,” that ranked St. Petersburg No. 1 in Florida and No. 14 nationally in this year’s ParkScore® index.

Kids having fun

WHAT IS HEALTHY KIDS?

Healthy St. Pete's Healthy Kids Program aims to give St. Petersburg’s youth the knowledge and tools to live their healthiest lives. Throughout the year, our team of Community Health Leaders works to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and encourage healthy behaviors in children and families by offering interactive lessons on different dimensions of health, including mental, environmental, physical and well-being.

Diving board overlooking pool

CITY POOLS OPENING FOR THE SUMMER

Neighborhood seasonal pools will open Saturday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31, Saturday, June 5 - Sunday, June 6, and Saturday, June 12 - Sunday, June 13, from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m. Seasonal pools will be closed June 1-4 and June 7-11 and will reopen for regular summer hours on June 14.

Get Healthy Together

HEALTHY ST. PETE RECOGNIZES ORGANIZATIONS IN ST. PETE THAT PRIORITIZE WELLNESS

Healthy St. Pete, an initiative of the City of St. Petersburg and a division of the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department, recognized Healthier Together certified workplaces and neighborhoods last month during the Healthier Together Workshop and Awards. Twenty-seven organizations have received recognition from the City of St. Petersburg and Healthy St. Pete as Healthier Together Certified Workplaces or Neighborhoods.

Crossword Search

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Test out your puzzle skills and exercise your brain with this fun therapeutic recreation themed crossword puzzle created by our Therapeutic Recreation Division.

Kids Smiling

WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department and the City of St. Petersburg are committed to providing an environment for all youth that is safe, secure, and free from harrassment and bullying of any kind per our Prohibition on Bullying in Youth Programs and Activities policy.

Click here to review our anit-bullying policy.

Mobile Phone with Parks and Rec Connect on screen

NEWLY UPDATED PARKS & REC CONNECT SITE NOW LIVE!

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce that the updated recreation management software system, Parks & Rec Connect, is now live.

Boyd Hill Trail

PARKS & RECREATION BINGO

Did you know that the first Friday in March, starting at sundown, until Saturday at sundown, is National Day of Unplugging? During this 24-hour period, we challenge you to unplug and explore the Sunshine City's parks using our parks and recreation bingo card and discover some of St. Pete's hidden gems located throughout the city.

Mobile Phone with Parks and Rec Connect on screen

NEW PARKS & REC CONNECT SITE COMING SOON!

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce the launch of an updated recreation management software system. Many exciting changes will start taking place in the months to come. This updated software system will include a completely redesigned Parks & Rec Connect site that will provide online registration and payments fo ractivities and camps with no additional convenience fees.

Purple Flowers

2021 GREEN THUMB FESTIVAL IS CANCELED

Due to the continued uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of St. Petersburg’s Parks & Recreation Department has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Green Thumb Festival. We look forward to the opportunity of hosting the festival next year. Please keep following our website at www.stpeteparksrec.org and social media sites for upcoming information on the City’s Arbor Day celebration.


Raptor at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

RAPTOR FEST @ HOME

One of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve's largest event, Raptor Fest is going virtual this year. St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department and the Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve are excited to present a new event-- Raptor Fest @ Home.


Movie projector shining onto a white projector screen.

FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIE SERIES

TASCO is hosting a FREE drive-in movie series at Crescent Lake Park. Spots are limited; first come, first served. Click here to learn more about the event.Events adhere to local ordinances and CDC guidelines.

Kid throwing football

SPOTS AVAILABLE IN OUR BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Did you know middle school students can attend our After School Program for FREE? Spots are available in our Elementary and Middle School Before & After School Program.

Participants can play, learn and explore at our recreation through fun activities, including arts & crafts, sports, homework assistance and more. Registration in ongoing.

Adults doing yoga in a park in downtown

8 FREE FITNESS CLASSES A MONTH

Healthy St. Pete has teamed up with local fitness professinoals to offer eight FREE fitness classes a month at parks around St. Pete as part of the Get Fit St. Pete program.