Riviera Bay Park
8131 Macoma Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Access Riviera Bay 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.
