I learned how to play tennis in high school 10+ years ago. However, I stopped completely when…read morecollege started and haven't played since. That changed when I moved to Tampa 2 years ago. Sandra Freedman Tennis Complex renewed my interest in tennis. The courts are beautiful and the waterfront views are a plus. Also, the front desk guys are a few of the coolest people I've ever met. In addition, the coaches are amazing at what they do. The courts are clay which is very forgiving to my joints. The tennis complex turned into my 2nd home. I play there once or twice a week. Check it out if you have a chance!

How often do you get to play waterfront tennis? and on clay courts? Come on, that is five stars…read more Pay by the hour. Located on Davis Islands, the facility is named after former Tampa mayor Sandra Freedman. The Sandra W. Freedman Tennis Complex offers eight courts, with classes for beginning and experienced players, youth and adults. Session dates for classes runs September through December. For complete details, or to schedule your next court reservation, please call 813-259-1663. Hours of Operations Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 8 am - 6 p.m.

Our 13 year old spent a week in the IMG tennis program. We felt he was individually tended to in a…read moreway that helped improve his game. His private coach Mark was outstanding, the PlaySight system for drills was very engaging in the immediacy of feedback on every ball hit, and Nick Bolleteri had a visible presence and engagement with the teens. Our son has great coaches back home and we feel that there is much we can take back home to add to that instruction. It is not inexpensive, but when we consider how many hours of high quality instruction our son received, it is more than worth it.

Bob, Tony, and Steve are incredible! Bob has been a great communicator throughout our experience…read morehere, and coaches, Tony and Steve, hold the players accountable and to high standards all while having fun with the kids on the court. We can't wait to continue our journey with Englewood Tennis Club.

A very well run tennis club. He not only welcomes new members but actively tries to get them into a…read moregroup that they will fit in and enjoy. There are a LOT of groups to play in even if you don't know anyone and a very active junior program. The clay courts are in excellent condition (lighted for night play too). I would give 5 stars if they were open on Sunday :-)

Gilchrist Park has a way of feeling alive even on a cool winter morning. I arrived around 9am on a…read moreSunday expecting a quiet start, but the place was already humming with tennis players, dog walkers, and people easing into the day along the Harborwalk. The breeze off the water made everything feel crisp and unhurried. The public restrooms were open, clean, and very welcome after my morning coffee, which is not something you can take for granted in a waterfront park. Parking is probably tight when there is an event, but on this visit it was easy enough to slip into a spot and enjoy the shoreline without any stress. The view of the bridges was especially lovely, stretching across the wide river with a kind of quiet confidence. From here you really appreciate how much engineering went into building and maintaining them, and how gracefully they connect the two sides of the harbor. The seagulls added their own bit of drama. They were unusually active, circling and calling, and once they noticed I was eating a sandwich they fell into formation behind me like a feathery escort. It was a little unnerving to feel so closely monitored, as if I had wandered into a Hitchcock audition. [Review 1589 of 2025 - 2170 in Florida - 25139 overall]

This 11 acre park is named for Governor Albert Gilchrist, a real estate broker, surveyor, and…read morepolitical leader and one of the founding fathers of the City. Gilchrist grew up in Georgia and came to Punta Gorda as surveyor. Governor Gilchrist first served on the City Council, then in the State Legislature before becoming the 20th Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913. Upon his death, Governor Gilchrist established a $5,000 endowment to the City for the provision of ice cream to all the children of Punta Gorda on Halloween. This tradition still continues today with the help of community sponsors. The park is located at 400 W. Retta Esplanade in historic Punta Gorda, Gilchrist Park runs along the waterfront between the downtown and Fishermen's Village. In the the park you get a view of Charlotte Harbor. Park amenities include a large pirate themed playground, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, fishing pier (closed), gazebo, picnic pavilions, and open green space. In the center of the park along the water there is a large statue of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon memorializing when he came ashore as the first European in this area in the 16th century. The statue was donated by the Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors,an organization "dedicated to the preservation of the Spanish heritage of Charlotte County and Florida." The statue was dedicated on March 27, 2005. Weddings, craft shows and concerts are some of the events held in the park. Also located within the park is the Bayfront Center operated by the YMCA of Charlotte County. This facility hosts YMCA programs including a sailing center. The YMCA rents this waterfront facility.

Everyone who works here is uptight and aggressive. From the woman (red hair) who checks people in…read moreto some of the lifeguards. The way they speak to people is rude and condescending.

This is a nice community park featuring lap pool, walking trail, dog park, and a playground area…read moreand workout area in back behind the pool. The playground area has some lovely old oak trees. Arlington has some great activities for small children on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In 2022 they also did a great Halloween trail and events including pumpkins in the pool and a Bark-o-Ween dog friendly event. There is good variety of trees and plants along the trail. The park borders a residential area and houses. There is a gym and updated bathrooms. There is a large stand of invasive Brazilian Pepper that needs removing from the park. More native plantings and no mow areas would be welcome. But overall this is a great park with a lot to offer for swimmers, walkers, dogs, children, nature lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

One of our favorite spots to look for manatees is the Spring branch or Spring Bayou, off Tarpon…read moreSprings (FL) Bayou. We try to get here before 10am (Jan 2026), which seems to be when the manatees like to "frolic" here. There's not a lot of parking, maybe 25 spaces, and there's more one street up at the tennis courts. We never see any street parking in this neighborhood. We look for manatees near the south end of the bayou, near Bath St north of S Spring Blvd. We saw several individuals and maybe a pair, occasionally surfacing their backs or peeking out for a gulp of air. It was a chilly morning, so we didn't stay long. There's a nice path around the bayou, a park, and on weekdays, a cute $5 museum, too.

There's a lot of street parking around. They were setting up for an art fair. There were a ton of…read moremanatees everyone was observing

Great place to play!…read more I found open courts and hitting partners on joinplaytennis.com/orlando

Started Junior tennis classes here and we love it! We go to playground after or just take a nature…read morewalk if we have time. Clean courts and courteous staff. Bathroom close by too.

Great place to get some sunshine and then hop in the pool and cool down. There is a splash pad for…read morethe kids. Enjoy the summer here.

Beautifully re-created into the nicest facility in town. I'm also a member of Quail but I play…read morealmost all of my tennis at VCT.

I have throughly enjoyed my time at the club . The tennis pros are top notch. With all the…read moreimprovements being made what a wonderful club.

My review is ONLY for the tennis club. I don't know anything about the lake/nightlife aspect…read more I loved playing on the red clay. A lot of fun even for a 50 year old. The brother sister team that run the tennis are great and very friendly. They also have hard courts with a ball machine. The clay courts are in excellent condition. They are watered from an underground system which negates the need to get out a hose and water continually all day. No down time. However, the only drawback to this watering system is the fact it is nearly impossible to slide. The water creates a very tacky surface. But that is a very small critique considering the beautiful setting and great staff. I highly recommend this place if you are on vacation or if you live down there and are considering joining the club. I cannot recommend this place more highly......I loved it.