Riviera Bay Park

8131 Macoma Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Access the park by car from 84th Avenue NE, or on bike via the North Bay CityTrails. 8.1 Acres. Playgrounds. Tennis Courts. Basketball Court. Shaded Fitness Zone. Shelters. Restrooms. Paved Accessible Path. Opens 30 minutes before sunrise. Closes 30 minutes after sunset.

• The path isn't marked. Signage next to Fitness Zone states if you run the paved path three times it is 1.1 mile. I ran the perimeter of the park using the dirt path for a wider circle. My 3 loops = 1.29 mi.
  
• There is more sun than shade on the paved trail.
• There is exercise equipment in the Fitness Zone that is shaded by a giant sun shade.
  
• Two water fountains. One by playground with a bottle refill station; one by the big picnic pavilion.
• There were kids and parents in the playground, exercisers in the Fitness Zone. At lunchtime, people sat in the smaller pavilions around the park to eat and read.
• The North Bay CityTrails connects the park to 1st Street NE or Weedon Island by bike.
• Plenty of wide open spaces. You may see dog training, yoga or a pick up football game.
• The parking lot, playground, fitness zone and  tennis courts are at the front of the park. The paved trail leads visitors around the park or to the center circle. There are benches all along the paved trails.
• There are 4 pavillions — one big and 3 small. The big pavillion can be rented for an event.
• Accessible restrooms are in a permanent building on a bluff near the rose garden.
• As you enter near the playground, stop to read the sign that describes the park's flora and fauna hunt. Local artist, Tom Pitzen, installed seven charming mosaic sculptures in the park for the hunt. Each sculpture depicts flora and fauna found in central Florida. See if you can find them all.
• This city park is a hidden treasure. It provides a great place to run and workout. It's nice to run a couple of miles, and then do come resistance exercises in the shaded Fitness Zone.

Riviera Bay Park entrance on Macoma Drive NE in St. Petersburg

The water fountain next to the playground has a bottle refill station.

There are two tennis courts and a basketball court at Riviera Bay Park.

The main playground has slides, climbers and swings.

The playground near the entrance is fenced.

The accessible paved path lead visitors to the center of the park.

The paths go around the perimeter of the park.

This cute little cub is part of the flora and fauna hunt at Riviera Bay Park.

There are lots of open spaces.

Visitors can learn about bats and see the bat house.

This Pametto Bug is a ceramic tile sculpture by local artist, Tom Pitzen.

One section of the trail is not paved, but is hard packed and easy to run.

Is that an alligator in the distance?

Closeup of ceramic gator sculpture at Riviera Bay Park.

There are climbers and swings throughout the park.

The main pavillion can be rented for parties. It has a grill and access to a hose.

The big pavillion in the center back area of the park. It's surrounded by open grassy areas.

This swingset is next to one of the smaller pavillions.

There are several of these unique swings that hold several kids at a time.

Closeup of swing.

Snake sculpture at Riviera Bay Park.

There are 3 smaller pavilions that each have two picnic tables under roof.

There is a rolling hill in the park.

Florida panther sculpture at Riviera Bay Park watches over visitors.

A paved circle is surrounded by park benches and some shade trees.

You'll find this Scrub Jay near the center circle.

The park now has permanent accessible restrooms.

The restrooms are accessible and family friendly.

The Fitness Zone is shaded by a huge umbrella.

The Fitness Zone equipment is on artificial turf.

Fitness Zone at Riviera Bay Park.

Signage advises visitors that three times around the concrete sidewalk is just over a mile.

Aerial view of Riviera Bay Park BEFORE permanent bathrooms and the shade over the Fitness Zone were added.