On a whim stopped at Cypress Creek Preserve on a cooler day in November. The preserve is a great…read morespot if you want to kill a couple of hours walking on unshaded and shaded paths. The preserve has a starting point with a wide path that has smaller paths that branch off. The main path is not shaded but if you take one of side paths, they are relatively shaded. The scenery was beautiful. There were small ponds, one of which is right as you head into the main entrance on the right. The landscape at times was simply breath-taking with hundreds of year-old trees and variety of wildlife to remind you that this a shared space. As other's mentioned, I would likely not go to this preserve after a sustain rainfall as it's easy to tell that the land quickly turns into a marsh and with a marshier environment comes snacks. We only did one trail of the main trail which equated to about 3 miles so it's not a small preserve by any means. Definitely work go back and parking is free!

I wanted to express my gratitude to Ian who is new to the ground keeping job. He has been nothing…read morebut extraordinary in his prompt attention to the much needed trail maintenance. Ian not only is very efficient, but he is extremely helpful and friendly. Whoever hired him.. thank you! This man is a gem! I run in the park everyday.

its a quiet middle class area with a very dog friendly park , with many other things to enjoy …read more they have a lake with fish. there also is a skate park , play swings , and even a outdoor venu for adults , concerts, and an open field , basket ball courts. they even have there cook out areas.

This is a great park! It is perfect for a festival because there is tons of free parking. I went…read morehere for a plant festival. This park has a playground and a splashpad for kids, a small skateboard/bike area for kids, a dog park pavillions for picnics, restrooms by the play area and dog park and a really nice long walking path around the huge pond. There is also a small stage near the big open field so it would be a good location for concerts. The park is on county land adjacent to a water treatment plant, which supplies the pond with reclaimed water. What a great use of space! I will bet most people wouldn't notice that but I work for another local government so I notice those things. Lots of people were out enjoying the nice weather. People with their kids in the kids area, people with their pets in the pet atea and people like me shopping for plants. They also had some food trucks out and staff/volunteers directing traffic and keeping things nice. Again, great venue for a festival in the heart of Carrollwood Village.

I've been taking my kids to sports and activities at the rec center for many years. They've played…read morefootball, soccer, tennis and basketball. They also host many other activities like baseball, swimming, yoga, ballet, and on and on. The people who work at the front desk are extremely friendly and helpful. I've never come across anyone who works there who is unpleasant. Some of the other reviews mention the dog park. It's a very tiny fraction of what is available at the rec center. I think this place is a perfect example of what can be done for the good of the community with public dollars.

Employees are wonderful i mostly just come for volleyball on saturday and tuesdays and its always a…read moreblast!!

Northdale Park is a multi-purpose park right in the heart of Carrollwood. It is run by the…read moreHillsborough County Parks and Rec department. Northdale offers things for people of all ages. For the young ones there are two playground areas right beside each other. There is one designed for the five and under crowd and one for the 5-12 age range. The five and under playground includes small slides, multi varieties of swings a tunnel and a long ramp to run, walk or climb on. The older kids have their own slides and climbing areas as well as swings and balance beams. There are covered picnic tables adjacent to each of the playgrounds. During the summer months the picnic tables outside of the older kids playground can be hard to come by, especially around lunch time, as Northdale offers various camps for elementary and middle school aged kids. Hey, the kids gotta eat somewhere right? Northdale also has things for adults too. There are at least two full sized basketball courts and outside workout equipment that can met some of your cardio, strengthening and balancing needs. It is pretty normal to show up to the park and see a mom or dad working out while their kids are on the playground. The equipment is situated in such a way that you have relatively unobstructed view of most of the playground. Northdale also offers a three quarters of a mile track that runs around the outside of the park. This track circles a huge, wide open, grassy area that can be used for just about any sport you can imagine. Well, probably not bowling or golf. I've seen people playing soccer, football, baseball, kickball, tumbling and cheerleading, just to name a few. Northdale Park has an indoor bathroom. It's not the cleanest park bathroom I've ever seen but it fulfills its purpose. There is a water fountain there as well. There are two or three buildings that maybe serve as a Rec Center/Summer Camp area. I've never been inside so I'm not sure what goes on in there. The park offers ample parking. There is a small row of parking spaces right outside the basketball court. These are usually the first ones filled. If you pull in and there is nothing available, just drive around to the back of the buildings and you will see a massive amount of space to park. On our dozen or so visits to this park, I've never seen the back parking lot area more than three quarters full. Because of its versatility, the shade it offers and its proximity to Whole Foods, Northdale Park is one of the rotating parks my daughter and I hit up during the summer months. If you have any interest in being outdoors in the Carrollwood area, especially in the hot Florida heat, perhaps you should add Northdale Park to your list too.

This was the first I've been to this park since my daughter was much younger. They really…read moretransformed this place! Nice pavilions available for parties and they now have a splash pad for the young kiddos as well as a nice grassy area with the playground. Restroom is available and clearly marked. Parking around back of the library makes for an easy walk to the park itself. Very clean and well maintained.

This 6533 acre nature preserve is open for visitors from sunrise to sunset. It is a part of Starkey…read moreWilderness Preserve. There is no gate locking anyone out & there is no cost to enter. Even during the Coronavirus pandemic, this park has remained open w/ its one stall bathroom facility. There is no green county street sign on the main road alerting you to this park. Even its private wooden brown sign is so weather worn that it's almost impossible to see from the road. If you find yourself at the lighted intersection of SR 52 & Hays Rd, you've arrived. (A rather new Publix & Beef O' Bradys can be found in the nearby shopping plaza.) This nature preserve consists of dirt paths as well as paved ones. It is frequented by hikers, horseback riders, cyclists, & fishermen. It is handicapped accessible, but I'm not sure I would agree w/ that designation; the first 200+ yards of pathway are dirt, not level, & can be narrow. Once you reach the paved areas, the park is definitely handicapped accessible. I would not hike this preserve alone if you are directionally challenged as I. I saw no available map to use as a guide & it appears hikers have created many additional paths than what was originally intended. It would be easy to lose ones way. Areas not meant for the equestrian types were unfortunately visited; one path I walked was littered w/ horse poo. There are; however, 18 miles of equestrian trails. Riders age 16 & under must wear helmets & all riders must be able to show proof of a negative Coggins test tesult. According to the website, there are 20 miles of bike trails & 21 miles of hiking trails (which include wet trails). There are equestrian & primitive campsites w/ picnic tables & fire rings or grills. The one portable toilet is located near the camping area. After stepping in horse dodo, I didn't make it to the camping area. But I love this preserve, so I plan to return soon!

Great place to enjoy in family, different opinions, horse riding, hiking, biking or just walkingread more

This was my first visit to Heritage Lakes Park. We were there for a band fundraiser as craft…read morevendors. The high school band was having a car show and craft fair near the band shell. This park is kind of split into two sections. One section is the ball/soccer fields and the other the band shell/open field area. There were tons of people with their kids over by the ball fields. The area where we were was nice too. The high school band and a couple other bands played music all day. The park is very well kept and has plenty of parking.

Beautiful park to visit near Sandhill pine and is next to I-75…read more The park is free to park and there are lot of parking spots available. The park has lot of swings where children can enjoy and can have a picnic with available picnic tables for lunch or gathering. New Tampa Nature Park is popular for bike riders and has a nice trail. There is a small paved bridge also and the nature park is good for biking as well as hiking.

Great park in the heart of New Tampa. If you know where the taco bell is you aren't far from the…read morepark, a bit of a hidden gem. Did some walking and bushwhacking looking for geocaches here with a friend. She even hid one of her own so keep an eye out if you're a seeker :) There is a grwat zipline and little rock and rope area at the front of the park, kids were politely taking turns using the equipment. Park seems really well maintained and has a number of benches and picnic tables. Highly recommend especially if you have younger kids. It does feed into nearby larger parks in the area as well.

If you wish get away from the city for a few minutes without having to travel far Lake Park should…read morebe on your to do list. I attended a friend's Christmas holiday event at Lake Park and it was surprising to find out what I had overlooked the last time I was there. This park has a number of FUN-dementals to offer the average city slicker. The park currently offers canoeing (weather permitting). Which we will go back in Spring to try out. They have a BMX ramp/exhibit which has areas for practicing *BMX membership required for practice. They have 3 hiking trails that span out about 1.5- 3 miles. **You can ride bikes also. It has 2 lakes: Jackson & Starvation which allows fishing and camping is allowed for non profit organizations. The park does have a few shelters for rent and if they are not reserved on a particular day they are first come first serve. Along with all of the things mentioned above the park offers a gazebo for intimate affairs like marriages. A horse-show.**Select dates. It has a volleyball space and an archery ramp. There's so much more to see at this beautiful conservatory I want you to make plans for that trip sooner than later!!

This park has an outdoor archery range. If you are a bow hunter and you live in north Hillsborough…read moreCounty, this is a good place to keep your skills sharp.

Took a nice walk and checked out all that they have to offer. We walked the perimeter of the park…read morefor a total of 1.74 miles. The path was paved and shaded at times. Plenty of parking for the various activities and fields. It was a huge sports complex. They also offer activities for kids, adults, and families. Pasco County residents pay $10 for the year for the membership.

I've recently come to this Park District to vote and for a Plant Festival…read more I can't get over how big it is. There's also a newer building with many community activities. Very impressed by it. This was the first time I came with my pup to walk the trail. It's really nice and wide. Some areas shaded some not. Even dog poop stations so it's very dog friendly. I can't believe it's taken me this long to walk here. I'll definitely be back with my pup. There are Beware of Alligator signs which is usually a sign I see anywhere in Florida.

Cute area with tons of fields. Lots of parking and picnic tables which are perfect for get…read moretogethers! Along side it are empty patches of grass where me and my friends had a picnic and we loved it!

Small and busy park when I visited today but there were a nest of osprey and a nest of owl in the…read moremiddle of all the action !