Best Outdoor Basketball Courts In Tampa Bay
Without a doubt, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It promotes a multitude of physical benefits, including calorie burning, muscle toning, endurance and coordination. Mentally, it can help an athlete work on concentration, self-discipline, confidence and a team-player attitude. On top of all that, it's just plain fun! Whether you want to grab your best friends, your coworkers or your kids, get out and shoot some hoops. These Tampa Bay parks have excellent outdoor basketball courts to help you work on your skills.
Desoto Park
2617 Corrine St.
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 242-5307
www.tampagov.net
This community staple offers all kinds of recreational opportunities: jogging trails, a children's playground, picnic tables and even a pier that extends out over the water so you can enjoy the view. Basketball players will appreciate the well-kept courts that are always available, rain or shine. Remember to bring your own ball.
Odessa Community Park
1627 Chesapeake Drive
Odessa, FL 33556
(813) 926-1141
www.pascocountyfl.net
This 29-acre park is perfect for birthdays, church picnics or just a day of relaxation with the family. The one large, outdoor basketball court is close to the playground so you can enjoy shooting some hoops while the kids play. The court is also lighted so you can keep your game going until the park closes until 10 p.m.
Bloomingdale West Park
3940 Canoga Park Drive
Brandon, FL 33511
(813) 744-5907
www.fl-hillsboroughcounty.civicplus.com
Bloomingdale West Park is most popular for its four tennis courts, but this 19-acre park also includes racquetball courts, a softball field, a playground and two full-court basketball courts. Located inside the Bloomingdale community, it is one of the safest parks in the Tampa area.
Related: Best Tennis Courts And Clubs In Tampa Bay
Al Lopez Park
4810 N. Himes Ave.
Tampa, FL 33614
(813) 348-1172
www.tampagov.net
Al Lopez Park is an ideal family park. The walking/jogging/biking trail is smoothly paved and clearly marked every quarter mile so you know exactly how far you've come while exercising. The children's playground is uniquely designed to promote multiple opportunities for physical fitness, including the Mobius, Spacenet and rock-climbing structures, as well as structures for children with disabilities. Hundreds of trees afford plenty of shade for those times when you need to duck out of the sun. The outdoor basketball court is a full-size blacktop court that can accommodate even the most competitive players. Al Lopez Park is open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
Azalea Park
1600 72nd St. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
(727) 893-7441
www.stpete.org
This beautiful park is a community hub in St. Petersburg. The community center offers classes in fitness, painting, pottery, dance and more. Outside the doors of the community center, you'll find ball fields, a playground, tennis courts and a golf course. The two basketball courts are lighted so you can play until the park closes 30 minutes after sunset. Safe, clean and well-maintained, this is an ideal family park.
Related: Best Golf Courses Around Tampa
Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.