Where to Play Sports in Tampa Bay and Pasco County

By Florida Home Vibes

Information reviewed November 7, 2026

AI-generated illustration of a representative recreation setting, not a specific facility.

Looking for somewhere to shoot hoops, swim laps, practice your tennis serve or get friends together for a game? Tampa Bay has options beyond private clubs and organized teams. The trick is knowing which places welcome drop-in players, which require a recreation pass and which reserve their fields for scheduled activities.

This guide covers public-access recreation in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel and New Port Richey. Public access does not always mean free admission. The options below include outdoor courts, paid open gyms, pools and golf, with official links to help you plan.

Before leaving home, check the activity schedule and closure notices. Building hours do not guarantee that a particular court, field or pool is available.

Basketball and indoor volleyball

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Wesley Chapel

Address: 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel.

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus offers scheduled open-gym sessions for players who want court time without signing up for a full league season. Its published prices are $10 for basketball, $10 for adult volleyball and $5 for youth volleyball.

Check the official open-gym page for your sport before visiting. General building hours are different from open-gym hours, and events can affect availability. Confirm which age group and session are appropriate for your player.

Long Center in Clearwater

Address: 1501 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater.

The Long Center brings basketball and volleyball, fitness facilities and swimming together in one location. It is worth checking when you want an indoor activity or have a household with different interests.

The center publishes daily drop-in fees, but individual programs can have their own charges and schedules. Check the activity you want before purchasing admission.

Visit the Long Center website for its program guide, admission information and contact details.

New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center

Address: 6630 Van Buren Street, New Port Richey.

This West Pasco facility combines indoor basketball and pickleball with swimming pools and outdoor courts. The city says its outdoor basketball courts, outdoor tennis/pickleball courts and skatepark do not require a day pass. Indoor facilities have separate admission arrangements.

Nonresidents are welcome. Day passes and memberships are available, and classes are separate from general membership and daily fees. Start with the facility page and admission FAQ.

A monthly pass for regular indoor recreation

Hillsborough County’s Wellness Access Pass costs $10 per month plus tax for guests ages 18 and older. The county’s central pass page says it covers included activities across participating locations, regardless of which location you select when purchasing.

Offerings can include fitness rooms, pickleball, badminton, volleyball and selected classes. Participating centers include Northdale, Westchase and Cross Creek, among others. Check each location’s schedule before planning a visit.

This is a county program, separate from City of Tampa recreation passes. The official Wellness Access Pass page explains participating locations and purchasing instructions.

Tennis and pickleball

St Petersburg Tennis Center

Address: 650 18th Avenue South, St. Petersburg.

Visitors can use the center’s public booking options for courts and clinics without creating an account. Payment is collected during booking. The center also lists lessons, organized play and children’s programs.

Choose a clinic that matches your experience, and check the current charge when reserving. The St. Petersburg Tennis Center website provides bookings and program information.

Find more pickleball options

For a closer look at individual venues, read our Tampa Bay and Pasco County pickleball guide. Planning a trip elsewhere in Florida? Our statewide pickleball guide covers additional destinations.

Soccer and flag football fields

SouthShore Sportsplex in Apollo Beach

Address: 6110 Waterset Boulevard, Apollo Beach.

Closure notice: Hillsborough County says SouthShore Sportsplex will be closed Wednesday, November 11, 2026, for Veterans Day and will reopen Thursday, November 12.

SouthShore Sportsplex has four synthetic-turf multipurpose fields accommodating soccer, football and lacrosse. Its posted rules allow informal public use of unreserved fields from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, unless otherwise posted. Organized practices and paid training require a rental permit. Later access depends on permitted activities and scheduled Open Play.

Beginning January 1, 2027, the county says a free Athletics Field Pass will be required for Open Play during specified peak-use periods. Check the SouthShore Sportsplex page for the field schedule, pass instructions and any changes.

These are multipurpose turf fields. Batting or hitting baseballs is specifically prohibited.

Skyway Sports Complex in Tampa

Address: 3901 George Road, Tampa.

Closure notice: Hillsborough County says Skyway Sports Complex will be closed Wednesday, November 11, 2026, for Veterans Day and will reopen Thursday, November 12.

Skyway offers free designated Open Play according to its weekly field schedule. Check which fields are available and when, rather than assuming every field is open throughout park hours.

The county asks players to share space. When others are waiting, limit activities to 45 minutes or include those waiting in the game. Paid trainers need a permit.

Use the Skyway Sports Complex page for the current schedule and closure notices.

Athletic fields in Pasco County

Pasco’s reservation portal says the public may use athletic fields for open play when they are not reserved. County programs and co-sponsored youth organizations receive reservation priority.

For a casual visit, check availability with the park. For a planned team practice or event, follow the reservation process instead of assuming an empty field is available for exclusive use. Read Pasco County’s field-reservation information.

Baseball and softball

Baseball and softball take a little more planning than arriving at an outdoor basketball court. Hillsborough County offers adult softball opportunities, while partner organizations operate their own programs at county facilities. Registration dates and schedules depend on the organizer.

For independent practice, ask about the specific diamond, batting rules and reservation requirements. A park listing that includes a baseball field does not establish unrestricted access.

Start with Hillsborough County sports and athletics and its partner sports leagues.

Swimming and lap pools

City of Tampa pools

City of Tampa’s aquatics page lists annual individual Rec Cards at $15 for city residents and $30 for nonresidents, covering open swim and applicable aqua-exercise classes. Exclusive lap-swim hours require an additional lap-swim pass or a daily fee for Rec Card holders without that pass.

Open swim, lap swimming and lessons are different activities. Check the City of Tampa aquatics page for pool locations, schedules and pass details before choosing a session.

Long Center pools in Clearwater

The Long Center pools have reopened following renovation. The facility includes an Olympic-size pool and a heated training pool. Clearwater identifies a lift at the main pool and a wheelchair ramp at the training pool.

Check the current program guide for swimming sessions and charges. If you need a particular accommodation, contact staff to confirm it is available for your visit. The city publishes Long Center facility information and aquatic accessibility details.

Golf without a private club membership

Rocky Point Golf Course in Tampa

Address: 4151 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa.

Rocky Point offers online tee-time booking, rental clubs and lessons for different skill levels. It uses dynamic pricing, so the cost changes with the tee time and demand. Check live rates rather than relying on a fixed price quoted elsewhere.

Need clubs? Contact the pro shop to confirm availability and reserve a rental set. For instruction, the course provides a lesson-interest form to connect players with an instructor.

Use the official pages for rates and tee times, rental clubs and golf lessons.

Disc golf and sand volleyball

Cypress Point Park in Tampa

Address: 5620 W. Cypress Street, Tampa.

Cypress Point Park combines a disc-golf course and a sand-volleyball court with trails, a playground and waterfront scenery. The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

The city notes that parts of the disc-golf course can hold standing water. Consider recent weather when choosing footwear, and plan to bring your own playing equipment unless you have confirmed another arrangement.

Check the Cypress Point Park page for current information.

Skateboarding and adaptive recreation

The New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center skatepark is free during operating hours. The city describes it as unsupervised. Review posted rules and bring appropriate equipment.

Hillsborough County also maintains an Adaptive Sports resource for recreational and competitive opportunities for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Contact the program about current offerings and participation requirements.

Before you head out

Check the activity schedule, not just the building hours. Confirm admission, age restrictions, residency rules and any separate equipment or class charges. Look for weather, holiday and maintenance closures, and ask about the accommodations you need.

For an easy first outing, choose one activity close to home and confirm its next available session. You can always explore another facility once you know what you enjoy.

Have a favorite public court, field or recreation center? Share the location and what you play there in the comments.

Research note: This guide is based on official city, county and facility information checked November 7, 2026. It is a researched resource, not a claim that Florida Home Vibes has visited every location. Fees, schedules and access rules can change.

Sources & Further Reading

• Official city, county and facility pages are linked beside each entry above. All were checked on November 7, 2026.
• For pickleball venues, see our Tampa Bay and Pasco County pickleball guide.