Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa FL

Lettuce Lake Park History

The area now known as Lettuce Lake Park, was used primarily for cattle grazing, hunting, and fishing, before it was converted into a park in 1982. The 240-acre park site has become one of the most successful parks in Hillsborough County. The park attracts well over one million visitors annually. More than half of the park’s property lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River, consisting of a hardwood swamp forest, which provides a natural storage reservoir for floodwater and improves water quality. The remainder of the park consists of hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods plant communities.

Lettuce Lake Park Amenities

• Barbecue Grills
• Bird Watching
• Boardwalk
• Boat Dock
• Boat Ramp
• Canoe Rentals
• Hiking Trail
• Picnic Shelters
• Playground
• Restrooms
• Visitors Center

Fitness enthusiasts can enjoy the park’s bicycle path/jogging trail, complete with a fitness course and a playground for the kids.
Nature lovers can either hike, kayak, or fish on their own.
For a $5 fee you can take guided nature tour on Saturdays and Sundays, where park rangers take participants through the 3,500 boardwalk and along the scenic Hillsborough River.
Visitors can check out the interpretive visitor’s center and its exhibits.
A three-story observation tower along the Hillsborough River provides a view of an extensive variety of wildlife.

Visitors can access the park’s wooded ADA accessible picnic areas and shelters, as well as picnic tables, restrooms, recycling bins, and barbecue grills.

Contact Information:

Location: 6920 East Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33637
Hours: •Spring/Summer: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; •Fall/Winter: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact: (813) 987-6204
Entrance Fee: $2 per vehicle. Up to 8 people per vehicle. Rentals are extra.

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