St. Pete-Clearwater Parks & Preserves

From far-flung islands to intimate city squares, you'll uncover the secrets of St. Pete-Clearwater by visiting our parks and preserves.

City Views

These unique local parks show off the personalities of the towns and cities of St. Pete-Clearwater. Click here for information about area parks.

Largo Central Park

In Largo's 70-acre Central Park, you'll hear the sound of a train whistle rounding up children and the young at heart. The community park is home to the Largo Central Railroad group, which maintains 1.2 miles of track where they run the miniature train line. The public is invited to take a ride on the large scale models the first full weekend of each month. Surrounded by the public library and the performing arts center, the park is often busy with community activities, including concerts in the tree-filled town center.

Skyway Fishing State Park

Set at the southern end of Pinellas County, the Skyway Fishing State Park is home to the world's longest fishing pier. On both the north and south sides of Tampa Bay, remnants of the old Skyway Bridge have been converted into 24-hour piers. Fishermen angling for snook, tarpon and mackerel line their cars on the pier at all hours, and concession and bait shops are open continuously as well.

Straub and Vinoy Parks

In downtown St. Petersburg, you'll find nine city parks. Straub Park is relatively small, set between Beach Drive and Bayshore Boulevard. Weddings are often held here overlooking the bay front. With the Museum of Fine Arts and numerous stores and restaurants surrounding the park, you can spend the entire day here exploring. Just a few hundred yards away, Vinoy Park provides a sprawling green lawn popular for picnics and area festivals. From the shaded sea wall you'll have an open view of Tampa Bay.

Pinellas Trail

To finds the ins and outs of other parks throughout St. Petersburg-Clearwater, use the 37-mile Pinellas Trail, which links all of our communities. The paved corridor safely brings cyclists, joggers and in-line skaters to parks, preserves and downtowns.

Egmont Key

Set at the opening of Tampa Bay and accessible only by boat, Egmont Key is a favorite spot for local boaters. Start the morning with a tour of the island that saw action during the Seminole War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. There are 100-year-old brick roads that lead to gun batteries built in 1898 and a 150-year-old working lighthouse. Storms damaged the original 1848 lighthouse, but the current 87-foot tower has withstood hurricanes and weathering since 1858. After touring the historic sites and nature trails, enjoy a swim, snorkeling or fishing.

Caladesi Island

Caladesi Island's natural white sandy beaches lined with driftwood and seashells consistently rank among the top beaches in the United States. In 2006 and 2007, the island park, which is located a mile offshore, was voted the second best beach in the U.S. by Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach. In 2008, it received top honors.

To reach Caladesi, take a ferry from nearby Honeymoon Island State Park located at the end of SR 586 or bring your own boat and dock at the park's marina. There are three miles of nature trails on the barrier island as well as a kayak trail that darts between the mangrove canopies of the interior and bay side of the island. A snack bar and a gift shop on the island make it easy to enjoy the secluded paradise.

Anclote Key Preserve State Park

The most remote of the island parks, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is found about three miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs. The wildlife sanctuary is a prime birding spot with 43 species of birds identified on the island. Campers should plan to spend the night on the island (camping is on the north end) and enjoy the sun setting behind the 19th-century lighthouse at the southern end of the island. In the morning, walk the four-mile beach and watch osprey and bald eagles hunt for breakfast in the surf.