There's a fee to enter the park, but it's worth it to take a few trails and spend a lot of time…read moreoutdoors. The trails are easy to navigate and are good for people of all levels. The nature center has a bathroom and a bit of information, but all the displays were empty, including the outdoor one that allegedly used to have a tortoise. There are canoes to rent if you're into that. Overall, it was a nice, uncrowded park to spend some time outdoors.

We visited this park as part of the 2020-2021 Hillsborough Hiking Spree. I was very impressed by…read moreit. We arrived and parked in the parking lot nearest the nature center. The center is currently closed due to Covid but the bathrooms are open. From what I could tell, on our mad dash to the bathroom and distance viewing, the displays are informative and well done. I'd love to return when it is safe to and take a look. The park has three trails that are part of the spree. We hiked the Bobcat Trail since it includes the boardwalk. The trail travels for about a half mile through trees and over dusty shells. Then it connects to the boardwalk. This was by far the best part. We walked along the beautiful, tree lined water, getting up close and personal with a bunch of small black crabs. We scanned the water for manatees but were not lucky to find any. The trail ends back at the nature center. We climbed the back steps to the top level and caught a great view of the river and the distant city. After the hike we hit up the playground for a few minutes. This is always my kids' favorite part. We also stopped off at the butterfly garden which was pretty active on this day. The park was in great shape, the bathrooms were clean, there were lots of people around doing various park things. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, nature hunting and playing on the playground are just some of the things available at your fingertips here. So glad we visited! Can't wait to return to check out the other trails.

JCSP is one of my favorite places to hike in Northern Pinellas County. There is a boardwalk and…read moretower along the river but also other trails within the park. There's a wealth of wildlife to be seen (a vast array of birds, alligators, frogs, otters, etc) Dogs are welcome in the park but NOT on the boardwalk trail.

A relatively large park with lots of fauna and flora. If you enjoy outdoors photography this place…read moreis a dream. I am just a city girl with a cellphone camera, so I can't give you details except that there are many types of birds including eagles, squirrels, gators, turtles, deers and other animals, but check out the quality photos posted by other reviewers. The trail on wooden boardwalk is well maintained, there's a lookout tower. Near the parking lot there's a dog park as well as a children playground too. Definitely one of the better parks to go spend some time outdoors.

Homeless people. Not the crowd I'd want around myself or my family. Better alternatives.read more

Is so beautiful and so peaceful , clean and beautiful again , my kids love this placeread more

This park has everything!…read more I went here specifically for paddleboarding, but I noticed this park has everything! When I first turned in I went to the wrong parking lot and saw tennis courts, basketball courts, and a playground. Moving back I saw dog parks, a zip line course, and then a huge lake. I've actually done the zipline course before and enjoyed it. You can do paddleboard tours with Upper Tampa Bay Paddle Sports. I bet you can even bring your own kayak or paddleboard and go into the lake. I saw a sign at one of the dog parks that said for smaller dogs. I don't own a dog, but I imagine that owners of small dogs would appreciate that. This park seems well taken care of and it is nice to know there is a kayaking lake so close to home. I'll definitely come back!

This area of land is home to some raised shared organic community gardens and a very nice, large…read moredog park (with two pen areas), a playground, as well as tennis courts, basketball courts, and connection to local trails and a boat ramp. The park is open until dusk (as posted that the gates close then) and there is lots to the area. I went at around dusk and saw some beautiful views of the water. The park area is very clean and obviously well taken care of. Parking is free and although the driveway into the park is paved, you will most likely be parking on grass that has a dip to it. My friends and I enjoyed roaming the area and exploring what the park has to offer.

Revisiting this park after a few years, while in the area again. Sad to see the many tree stumps,…read moreremnants of trees that didn't survive the hurricane a couple years ago. For that reason there's less shade in the park, but otherwise it is well maintained and restored as much as possible. There is the historic spring, that was once a paid attraction in the area, but now the park is totally free. Usually there is an abundance of fishes near the circular spring. We enjoy walking along the trail. There's an observation tower that gives a nice view of the area, plus seveal decks to admire the Gulf. To the right side of the entrance there's a other trail, longer and more for bicycles, that takes you along the paved road to another observation deck. As walker I prefer the other trail, more natural, better shades, and less hot than walking on asphalt. There is a butterfly garden, and a little free library as well, near the parking lot.

What an incredible park. No fee. Plenty of parking. Great trails, boardwalks and a magnificent…read moretower about four stores high. There is a spring and plenty of wildlife. We were fascinated by numerous jumping fish launching themselves out of the water over and over again. They do close a few minutes after sunset so it is difficult to watch this from the tower and get back to the car before they close for the night. A park ranger was coming out to clear people out before the sunset. Not sure this is a daily occurrence but was on the Sunday night we were there. Park is pretty clean. Trash cans are emptied. Need some more signs showing where the trails are located. When you park by the main bathroom there is nothing telling you where to go for trails. Cute butterfly garden that could use a tiny bit of care and surprisingly had no live butterflies around it. The spring has several signs around it that explain it's history and made this more interesting. Look for the female silhouette in the bottom of the spring. There is a sign that helps you see it. Numerous picnic areas. They are rolling out a new reservation system but it was down for a week. The Pinellas Trail connects right to the park and several spots had bike racks. Only thing that was frustrating was numerous visitors not following signs for "no dogs" especially in the tower where leashes get in the way on small walkways. The sign right on the boardwalk leading to the tower clearly indicates no dogs so why do you feel entitled to walk your dogs up and down the tower? Hopefully no dogs peeing through wood slats down on people below. Definitely be back to this park when in the Sponge Docks area. The beauty is so evident here... There are some sections that smell like sulfur probably due to decaying swamp material but this is nature!

This is a great little park if you are looking for something quiet. As much as I love some of the…read moreother local parks, they are normally so crowded that it's hard to enjoy yourself. This one is kind of hidden and it seems like the only people who know it is there are the ones whose kids have games on the fields. The playground is small, but it's clean and shaded. The ground is mulch. There are 3 slides, quite a few swings, including baby swings, picnic tables, a nice small pond to look at, and it's fenced in. There are monkey bars and a sliding bar as well. I definitely recommend going here. My daughter is 2 and keeps herself busy. She is always so upset when it's time to go home. Lol

I have been coming to this park for the past 4 years and the kids play area was in horrible shape…read more To my surprised over the summer some renovations was done and a brand new plastic playground set was placed. It's more connected with multiple areas to play as oppose to the disjointed old metal dina-eye-sour that was here. They also added more swings as well as a joint toddler and adult swing combo which allows a parent to swing with their toddler that may be to scared to swing on their own. The trees have a canopy that provides shade but I wish these were cut back just a tad bit and a reflective overhang was placed to provide shade. In the peak of the Florida heat I'm sure the plastic will get very hot. The "rock climbing" wall is a nice addition. With so many different little nooks to explore I wish there was a water fountain placed within the play area that the little kiddos could reach to stay hydrated. Parents either have to bring their own (I always do) or drag/beg their kid to leave the play area and exit to the bathrooms where the water fountains are.

This is a lovely park. It has a beautiful view of the river, with benches for sitting. We…read moresometimes see wildlife and love the ducks. There is a playground and a little stream area with a bridge that is pretty. It is also the location of a Little Free Library. It is definitely my favorite of the small Heights parks.

This review is really only for the pool--I didn't explore the rest of the park. The pool however is…read morenice: it's large, has lap lanes, a zero-entry portion with a pirate's ship for the kids, and a dive well (separate) with 1m and 3m boards. Alas, no tower, but still I'll gladly take the 3m! There is a large seating area--stadium style--for swim meets, too. The locker rooms and interior areas are nice and the staff and lifeguards polite and helpful. I just came to practice diving some, but aside from a tower with platforms can't really ask for more than this well-maintained facility already has. Plus, it wasn't busy or too crowded, either.

Small wooded park set in the middle of a neighborhood just south of Fowler Ave. and right off 15th…read morestreet. There is a baseball field, basketball court, and swimming pool along with various play areas. I often walk my dog here, but always felt a little strange about the constant heavy police presence. Turns out a female jogger was raped in this park in 2012. I think if they had a dog park, things would improve. If you're looking for a generally nicer and safer park with more amenities (but no pool) - try Rowlett instead.