Accessible Parks in Clearwater, Largo and Seminole

On a barrier island south of Clearwater Beach, quiet Sand Key Park has white-sand Gulf beaches. Two manual beach wheelchairs can be borrowed by calling the park ranger. Picnic shelters #1 and #2 are wheelchair accessible, and behind the shelters is a paved walkway to the playground, which has a pirate ship that’s accessible via a ramp. The dog park is wheelchair accessible as well.

• Location: 1060 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33767
• Parking: Two disability spots with access stripes by shelters #1 and #2, and two spots by the dog park. 
• Bathrooms: There is an accessible, long stall with grab bars. There’s no sink in the stall.
• Trails: The trails are all sand and are not accessible.
• Dog-friendly: Yes, but not on the beach. Dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs. 

Largo Central Park is a 70-acre recreational area with eight accessible picnic shelters, as well as an adult fitness center that’s not suited to someone in a wheelchair. 

In the playground, there’s some Braille signage and a couple of ramps that lead to a small play car structure. Otherwise, the playground isn’t accessible to wheelchair users, nor is a small train ride for kids.

• Location: 101 Central Park Dr., Largo, FL 33771
• Parking: The four parking lots have two to five disability spots each, but only the lot near the playground and bathrooms has disability spots with access stripes with room for a wheelchair van with a ramp.
• Bathrooms: Near parking lot #3 and the playground, there’s one ADA-compliant bathroom with a large stall with grab bars, a higher toilet, a sink in the stall and room for wheelchair side transfer to the toilet.
• Trails: All walkways in the park are cement or asphalt. A 1.5-mile accessible cement and asphalt path winds around the entire park. It's mostly full sun, so avoid visiting in the middle of the day.
• Buildings: The Central Park Performing Arts Center, Library and Historic Largo Feed Store & Museum are all accessible, with ADA-compliant bathrooms.
• Dog-friendly: Yes.

Largo Central Park Nature Preserve is one of Beth's favorite local parks, and for good reason. It has accessible paved trails and boardwalks, through both sunny and wooded areas, and abundant opportunities to see wildlife. Watch for roseate spoonbills, alligators, turtles and wood ducks, and don’t miss the small butterfly garden. 

• Location: 150 Highland Ave. N., Largo, FL 33770
• Parking: Three disability parking spots, one with access stripes, located near the bathrooms. A paved, 150-yard path leads from the parking lot to the boardwalk.
• Bathrooms: There’s one ADA-compliant stall with plenty of room for transfers, two grab bars and a sink in the stall.
• Trails: A .6-mile, synthetic-wood boardwalk circles the small lake (varies from full sun to partial shade). A second trail is a .5-mile mix of synthetic-wood boardwalk and paved trail in a wooded area. It leads to an overlook tower that isn’t accessible. A third, mile-long paved bike trail in the back of the park runs along a golf course and canal in full sun. Otters and ducks may be spotted in the canal.
• Dog-friendly: No.

Boca Ciega Millennium Park is a favorite picnicking spot. Its two wheelchair-accessible trails lead to accessible shelters, all with picnic tables and grills. The dog park is reached by a cement sidewalk.

• Location: 12410 74th Ave. N., Seminole, FL 33772
• Parking: A total of 23 disability spots in three locations in the park, all with access stripes.
• Bathrooms: Two bathrooms, each with an ADA-compliant stall with ample turnaround room, grab bars and a sink in the stall.
• Trails: The Recreation Trail is a half-mile, out-and-back cement trail through partial shade beside a small pond. Also leaving from the parking lot, a synthetic-wood boardwalk extends for almost a mile. Look for raccoons, fiddler crabs and egrets. The observation tower isn’t wheelchair accessible.
• Dog-friendly: Yes. Dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs.

Lake Seminole Park, on the shores of Lake Seminole, serves as a designated wildlife sanctuary. Twelve picnic shelters, all accessible, offer pretty lake views (shelter 3 and the bathroom near it were closed at last check).

• Location: 10015 N. Park Blvd., Seminole, FL 33777
• Parking: Each lot has at least two disability parking spots with access stripes.
• Bathrooms: The park’s bathrooms have accessible stalls with grab bars, but there’s no turnaround space or room beside the toilet for side transfer.
• Trails: A two-mile paved and concrete multiuse trail with a one-mile connector leaves from near shelters #12 and #13. Along the trail, enjoy the shade of the accessible gazebo, and keep an eye out for gators, racoons and bald eagles.
• Dog-friendly: Yes.

In addition to Walsingham Park’s long paved trail, its eight picnic shelters with grills, dog parks, small pier, boat ramp and floating dock are all accessible. Fishing is permitted. There's a new playground with some ADA-compliant pathways (however, it does not appear that the playground equipment itself is accessible).

The Florida Botanical Gardens, which has free admission and is around the corner on Ulmerton Road, is fully accessible.

• Location: 12615 102nd Ave., Seminole, FL 33778
• Parking: All lots have two to three disability spots each with access stripes.
• Bathrooms: The three bathrooms that are open every day are ADA-compliant, with a large stall, turnaround room, grab bars and the sink in the stall. Find them between shelters #1 and #2, between shelters #7 and #8 and next to the boat ramp.
• Trails: An accessible, three-mile paved trail meanders around Walsingham Reservoir and through a wooded area. Some parts of the trail are uneven due to exposed roots. Bikes are present on the trail.
• Dog-friendly: Yes. Three large, shaded dog parks – one for small dogs, and two for large dogs.

The accessible Pinellas Trail, a 54-mile rail trail, passes through Clearwater, Largo and Seminole on its way from Tarpon Springs to St. Pete. Note that some sections of the trail are undergoing repairs; please check access issues prior to your visit.

• Location: From Tarpon Springs to St. Pete
• Parking: Parking is available at various points along the trail, including at Boca Ciega Millennium Park, with a total of 23 disability spots.
• Bathrooms: There are some park bathrooms as well as bathrooms at businesses along the trail.
• Trails: The trail is accessible to bikes, pedestrians and people in wheelchairs, so Beth recommends staying to the right and watching for passing e-bikes and regular bikes. She also noted that the portions of the trail where it goes over some bridges can be steep.
• Dog-friendly: Yes.