About Simmons Park
Simmons Park offers a uniquely tranquil and clean natural environment, ideal for families seeking a peaceful escape. Its value proposition lies in its uncrowded atmosphere, beautiful natural setting with water features, an adorable bridge, and a gazebo, making it perfect for relaxing walks, picnics, and enjoying sunsets, especially if you're looking for a quiet nature experience near USF.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a peaceful, uncrowded place for a walk or gentle hike with kids.Picnics and enjoying nature with family.Watching sunsets.Relaxation, reading, or quiet contemplation.Yoga or other calm outdoor activities.
Why families love it
- Consistently described as clean and not overcrowded, providing a peaceful experience.
- Features a relaxing atmosphere with shade, a fountain, and opportunities for bird watching.
- Boasts an 'adorable bridge', a gazebo, and water features that create a 'perfect relaxing backdrop' for activities like yoga.
- Excellent for enjoying nature and spending quality time outdoors with family, including watching lovely sunsets.
- A beautiful place perfect for a walk, described as the 'best park around USF'.
- Cleanliness and a consistently uncrowded environment.
Insider tips
- **Bring your own amenities:** Parents are advised to carry a book, snacks, and a picnic mat to fully enjoy the park's atmosphere.
- **Evening Parking Strategy:** If visiting at night and without a permit, you might be able to 'catch security' who *might* let you park for an hour to get a walk or workout done (implies this is not a guaranteed solution, but a possibility).
Good to know before you go
- If your children require playgrounds, active play structures, or highly stimulating entertainment (none are mentioned).
- If you require guaranteed, easy, non-permit parking during the day.
- Most parking is permit-only, which can be a significant hurdle for visitors without a permit during the day.
- Crowds
- Consistently described as 'not overcrowded' and a 'nice peaceful place'.
- Value
- No pricing information is mentioned in the reviews, suggesting it is a free public park. The value comes from a clean, peaceful, natural, and uncrowded environment for relaxation and outdoor enjoyment without an entry fee.
- Food
- Outside food is encouraged; reviewers suggest bringing snacks and picnic mats, and one mentions having lunch there.
- Accessibility
- No specific accessibility accommodations are mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- Reviewers mention it is 'clean'. No other specific safety features like staff supervision, first aid, or controlled access are noted.
What parents say
"This is a nice place to relax in the shade...listen to the fountain...and watch the birds."
2 weeks ago
"Beautiful place and perfect for a walk"
2 months ago
"We love going to this park, it’s not over crowded and is clean! Most of the parking is permit only but if you catch security at night they’ll let you park for an hour to get your walk or workout done. The bridge is adorable, there’s a gazebo and the water is the perfect relaxing backdrop for some yoga."
2 years ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More hiking with kids in Tampa
Hiking with Kids Ballast Point Park
4.7(5,793)4.7 out of 5 stars, 5793 reviews5300 Interbay Blvd, Tampa
Hiking with Kids Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
4.7(1,955)4.7 out of 5 stars, 1955 reviews1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg
Hiking with Kids Eureka Springs Park
4.7(1,402)4.7 out of 5 stars, 1402 reviews6400 Eureka Springs Rd, Tampa
Hiking with Kids Rivercrest Park
4.6(703)4.6 out of 5 stars, 703 reviews4802 N Blvd, Tampa