Hillsborough County, Florida, has been selected as a national finalist for the 2026 National Gold Medal Award, recognizing the county’s park system as one of the top four large-scale park programs in the United States.
Park System Highlights
The county’s park system covers over 3,500 acres of land, featuring 180 parks, 223 sports fields, 118 playgrounds, 54 recreation centers, 47 athletic complexes, 11 dog parks, nine splash pads, and four cultural or performing arts centers.
Recent updates to the system include the addition of 40 pickleball courts, six new splash pads, and fitness zones built in underserved neighborhoods. The county has also directed $6 million toward building custom splash pads to assist families facing economic or transportation barriers.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
The county’s Adaptive Sports program has grown by over 200 percent since 2021, serving 955 athletes. A specialized Buddy Baseball field for players aged 8 to 22 was also added to the system. The Swim Safe Initiative provides free swim lessons to children ages 3 to 5 enrolled in the Head Start program.
The county works with 182 total organizations, including 49 youth sports groups and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. These partnerships brought in 1.4 million visits last year, supplementing the 3.5 million visits generated by the county’s own activities.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
