137 parks on approximately 2,300 acres of public land are dedicated to parks and recreation, including a seven mile preserved downtown waterfront -- the third largest urban waterfront park system in North America. Unique parks include the 245-acre Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, the botanical attraction Sunken Gardens, Treasure Island Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, and the historic Weedon Island Preserve. The Pinellas Trail , a 37-mile hiking/biking trail, connects St. Petersburg with central and north Pinellas County-the longest urban linear trail in the Eastern U.S.
St. Petersburg has been ranked the No. 1 Arts Destination for cities its size for three consecutive years. Visit St. Petersburg's collection of world-famous museums and galleries, including the Salvador Dali Museum , Museum of Fine Arts , The Chihuly Collection , St. Petersburg Museum of History , Great Explorations , and Florida Holocaust Museum .Florida CraftArt , American Stage , The Morean Arts Center , and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum . In addition, St. Petersburg is home to the Florida Orchestra, and home to the Mahaffey Theater (a performing arts hall), the Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg Opera and residential theater companies including American Stage, freeFall Theatre, A Simple Theatre (at Eckerd College), and St. Petersburg City Theater.
St. Petersburg is home plate to the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) playing at Tropicana Fiels and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL), who play at Al Lang Stadium. The region is also home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), Tampa Bay Storm (AFL), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL),and Derby Lane (greyhound racing).
Three award-winning public golf courses , nine public pools including an Olympic-size training facility located on Tampa Bay, 80 lighted tennis courts, five dog parks, two skateboard parks, a BMX bicycle track, a Jai Alai fronton and a Maximo Park flying disc golf playing facility.
St. Petersburg is home to more than 1,000 special events and