Tampa has always been one of Florida’s most popular destinations for state park visiting and outdoor recreation. But in 2022, they are receiving recognition for all of their hard work. The Hillsborough County Parks and Rec department was named a national finalist for the 2022 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
Related: Pickleball Courts in Hillsborough County Set to Double
Only four finalists are named in Class 1 for the award by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Class 1 includes the nation’s largest parks and recreation departments, serving populations of over 400,000. One of these four finalists will receive the Grand Plaque in September.
In 2021, the City of Tampa Parks & Recreation Department won the award in Class II. Hillsborough County is hoping to bring home another award to make Tampa one of the best places in Florida for outdoor recreation.
Here’s a video sent to the judges that highlights the department:
Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation highlights include:
- All-ages programs and facilities such as youth sports leagues, programs like Move! Hillsborough and the annual Hiking Spree. There’s also the new Wellness Access Pass, which provides affordable access to fitness centers and gym activities.
- An adaptive sports program that now includes approximately 300 athletes in 26 sports programs. This includes wheelchair basketball and football, archery, swimming, and track and field events.
- Creation of a state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot inclusive playground at Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. All People’s Community Park and Life Center.
- Transforming the property that once held a decommissioned sewage plant into the popular Carrollwood Village Park. This now includes a skatepark, playground with splash pad, walking trails, outdoor amphitheater, environmental center, and an arboretum.
- A new Esports program that includes gaming lounges at Northdale Park and Emanuel P. Johnson Park.
- Relationships with over 180 community partners, including the Positive Coaching Alliance, Boys & Girls Club, Tampa Bay Lightning, Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The park also offers hundreds of different nature parks, preserves, sports centers, and recreation facilities to encourage the residents of Hillsborough county to lead active lifestyles. Some of their facilities, many of which are free to the public, include:
- 53 recreation centers
- Six fitness centers
- Five skate parks
- Nine off-leash dog parks,
- 47 sports complexes comprising 170 baseball and softball fields, 30 football fields, 53 soccer fields, and three lacrosse fields.
- 104 non-programmed neighborhood parks with 1,200 acres of open space, 44 miles of walking paths, and 118 playgrounds, courts, and picnic shelters.
The county is putting its best foot forward with the Parks and Recreation Department and hopes to bring even more for Tampa residents and visitors to enjoy year after year.
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