Parks & Recreation

Services and Policies

General Parks and Recreation Information: (727)562-4800 · Contact Us

Table of Contents

• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Athletic Field Reservations
• Facility Maintenance
• Facility Rentals
• Liability
• Photography Policy
• Presentations
• Project Safe Place
• Refund Policies
• Safety Considerations
• Special Event Application
• Volunteers

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. If you require special assistance to participate in our programs, please contact the facility supervisor prior to the activity. We will do our best to provide reasonable accommodations to make it possible for you to participate. If you have a specific concern about a city facility, notify us by contacting Dawn Lewellyn, CTRS, at (727) 793-2339 ext. 238.

• TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf): (727) 562-4833
• Florida Relay Service with Voice Assistance: 1-800-955-8770
• Florida Relay Service for TDD: 1-800-955-8771

Athletic Field Reservations

Fields are available for rentals on an hourly basis when not in use by the department. Stop by the Athletics Department at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, 2450 Drew St., between the hours of 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday and complete an Athletic Field Reservation Form. Availability of field will then be verified and the following fees collected.

• Field Reservation: $7.50 per hour plus tax (2-hour minimum)
• Lights (if needed): $10.00 per hour plus tax

Reservations will be approved and a copy of the reservation receipt slip will be given out seven days in advance.

Facility Maintenance

The Clearwater Parks & Recreation Department, Recreation Facilities Division provides maintenance and construction for the following sites and facilities.

• Ballfield maintenance and renovations at 49 athletic fields
• Ballfield use coordination with the Philadelphia Phillies, Clearwater Bombers, 20+ co-sponsored volunteer organizations, rental of ballfields and special events.
• Playground apparatus maintenance at 29 sites
• Fitness station installation and maintenance at 8 sites
• Custodial maintenance at 43 buildings
• Staff coverage at rental facilities
• Lighting system design, installation and maintenance at 62 recreation facilities
• Security lighting installation and maintenance at 45 city buildings and 15 parking lots
• Street light installation and maintenance on U.S. 19 and bridges

Facility Rentals

Depending on the size of the function, recreation centers range from neighborhood centers featuring small meeting rooms to community centers with multipurpose rooms, kitchen facilities, outdoor pools and gymnasiums. Fees vary according to space. All reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. A deposit fee is requested when submitting a Public Building Lease Application.

• Clearwater Beach Recreation Complex (727) 462-6138
  Social hall with scenic view of Intracoastal and seasonal pool
• Countryside Recreation Center (727) 669-1914
  Gymnasium, meeting room, activities room
• Moccasin Lake Nature Park and Environmental and Energy Education Center (727) 462-6024
  Classrooms
• Morningside Pool (727) 507-4064
  Seasonal pool
• North Greenwood Recreation Complex (727) 462-6276
  Double gymnasium, meeting rooms, & seasonal pool
• Ross Norton Recreation Complex (727) 462-6025
  Social hall, meeting rooms & year-round pool.

Liability

The City of Clearwater assumes no responsibility for personal injury or loss of personal property while using City facilities or participating in recreation activities.

Photography Policy

The Parks & Recreation Department regularly takes photos of participants in our classes, special events, and other recreational activities. The photos are for Department use and may be used in presentations, brochures, and fliers.

lf you do not wish to have your picture taken, please tell the photographer.

Presentations

The Recreation Programming Division is eager to visit your club meetings, civic association, homeowners association meetings or PTAs to discuss services, activities and programs. Let us tell your group about the exciting recreation activites and programs available to you! We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Parks & Recreation at (727) 562-4800 to schedule a presentation.

Project Safe Place

Project Safe Place is a national runaway outreach and prevention program to provide safe and immediate help for youth who are runaways, homeless or otherwise in a crisis situation. This means a youth can enter any location bearing the Safe Place sign and request help. An employee there will provide the youth a secure place to wait and call one of the two runaway shelters operated by Family Resources, Inc. in Pinellas County. A trained volunteer comes to assist the youth and transport him or her to the shelter if necessary. Safe Place sites include businesses and other public locations that are easily accessible by youth.

A major component of Project Safe Place is outreach to youth and their families through presentations on the dangers of running away, alternatives to running away, teen related problems and concerns and the importance of making healthy choices in dealing with problems. For more information, visit the Project Safe Place World Wide Web site.

City of Clearwater Recreation Centers that are Safe Place Sites:

• Clearwater Beach Recreation Center
• Countryside Recreation Center
• Ross Norton Park Recreation Center

Look for the brightly colored yellow and black Safe Place logo/sign on a building designating it as a Safe Place site.

Refund Policies

All refund requests are subject to administration approval.  Allow four to six weeks for refunds to be processed.

Recreation Programs or Activities Refunds

Requests for refunds must be received in writing ten business days prior to the start of the program. A $10 processing fee will be charged or you can receive a 100% credit toward another program. No refunds will be issued after the program begins, except for documented* medical reasons.  

*A medical form signed by a doctor stating the individual is unable to participate for the remainder of the program will entitle the individual to a prorated refund from date of notification, or credit towards another program.  Please notify staff as soon as possible of any medical reason for withdrawal.

Recreation Cards/Play Passes Refunds

Recreation Cards/Play Passes will not be refunded after ten business days from date of issue or if used. Requests for refunds must be submitted in writing with the card or pass attached.

Open Swim/Open Skate Refunds

If the city must close a pool or skate park unexpectedly, participants who have been at the facility for less than an hour may be given a rain check for another visit.

Safety Considerations

The Parks and Recreation Department and its staff is committed to providing high quality leisure activities that are safe and enjoyable. By their nature, recreation activities may present situations that place participants or spectators at some risk.

You need to be aware of safety factors regarding your own physical limitations & use good 'common sense' in participation of leisure activities.

If you notice a safety hazard or risk potential while enjoying any City facility or program, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at parksrec@myclearwater.com or (727) 562-4800. Thank you!

Special Event Application

Organizations and individuals who wish to hold any organized activity (concert, sporting activity, rally, parade, fireworks, arts and crafts show, etc.)  involving the use of, or having impact upon public property, public facilities, parks, sidewalks or streets within the city limits, will need to fill out a Special Event Permit Application for review and approval by the Special Events Committee.

Permit Process and Cost

• Special Event Permit Applications are only required for events that meet any of the following criteria:
• Event has 75 people or more
• Event has Amplified Sound
• Event involves the use of, or having impact upon public property, public facilities, parks, sidewalks or streets within the city limits
• Applications are available here or call 727-562-4700 ext. 0 to have one mailed to your address.
• The application will not be processed if the information is incomplete and the $100 application fee has not been received.
• Please make any check payments made payable to the "City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation Department".
• Submit application and payment at least 30 days prior to the event set-up. You can mail the application to the City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation Dept. Attn: Tony Lenning 706 N. Missouri Ave. Clearwater, FL 33755 or fax it to 727-562-4813.
• All expenses for insurance, security, fencing, restrooms, tents, sound systems, and services provided by City of Clearwater departments shall be paid by the event organizer.
• In most cases, a minimum of $1 million dollars of insurance is required. Securing and paying for insurance is the responsibility of the applicant.

Volunteers

Take a Break and share your time with others. It's Fun! Meet New People! And You Can Make A Difference! If you have a special talent you would like to share or valuable time to give to others, please check out the volunteer information page. Please call Karen Maldonado at (727) 562-4803 for more information. Thank you!