Picnic Island Park & Boat Ramp

Hands down a unique park in a unique location. industrial location that is. This review is based off a 3.6 mile run I did here on a Friday evening.
Finding this location was not so easy. essentially tucked away as far south you can go on westshore and in the back of an industrial area, plus rain did not help with minor flooding on the roads but once I arrived, I liked the space this park has for South Tampa.
This park offers the fun game of Frisbee golf (with several «holes»), a dog park, covered shelters, boat ramps, bathrooms and BBQ grilles for your convenience. Running through this place gave me the best overview of the park as I ran through mangroves, man-​made «hills» to a homeless persons home. with trash everyone and smelling like piss. Other than that, there are beautiful scenic views for sunsets and the skyline of downtown St. Pete.
I wouldn’t mind coming back to this park and will probably return for the third race in the Picnic Island race series in July but I wouldn’t specifically make a trip just to here as I live in St. Pete and have my own parks to venture around and are closer.

I went to picnic island park today for the first time to check out the dog beach. I usually go to Ft De Soto with my #1 furry, but due to the distance, I was looking forward to a place more local for quick shore like play dates. The park is at the furthest corner of south Tampa and is a little hidden. There was plenty of parking and the dog beach is adjacent to the boat ramp. One thing that I’m sure dog owners appreciate is the fence surrounding the beach. My dog isn’t a runner, so it wasn’t as important to me, but I know the lack of fence keeps many doggies from similar parks. The sand was fairly clean with a large grass strip behind the sand and plenty of poop stations throughout the park. There is also a cleaning station and water fountain at the entrance. I also liked that there were picnic tables, shaded and not, through out the area.
These are the highlights of the picnic island dog beach, but it went downhill from there. My dog is a big rugged hike a mountain lab, and me, as his mother, is not nearly as tough. So it didn’t surprise anyone that I sliced my foot open within minutes of walking into the water… with flip flops on. Moving on… the water had an oil film floating on top and lots and lots of rocks for the first 5 feet in (hence the cut foot). Then it turned into sand but lots of dirty seaweed so the water was murky. I know dog beaches aren’t always the best, but I was really expected something a little nicer in terms of the sand and water cleanness.
After swimming for a little while, we went back to our stuff for some water and I noticed the pup limping. As I am a chronic over reactor with the dog, my husband examined his paw… when I saw his face turn several sheets of white I looked away so I wouldn’t be sick. Yep, his paw had been sliced clean open with a flap hanging off. Ok so enough of the gross stuff… in summation, won’t be going back.

So I have to say, the drive in to Picnic Island Park got a little strange since it’s hidden by the ports — we weren’t sure where we were going. But once we got to the park, it was great since it is so hidden it wasn’t overly busy for a Sunday afternoon. After going to Davis Island Dog park on Saturday, I have to say I like this spot a bit more as there’s actual shade for you/​your dog and oddly enough, the dogs here seemed to be more calm. It is a bit rocky in the water, but considering the view, that’s easy to overlook. There is a cleaning area with pup/​human water fountain by the entrance — but make sure to bring water/​a bowl along for your dog as they don’t have bowls around the beach.
For our pup Sage, this was the first time that she actually fell in love with the water, now I greatly wish that we lived near here!

Growing up in The SOG, Picnic Island was always a close and convenient option to setup shop for get-​togethers, cookouts and birthday parties. Take Westshore to Interbay Blvd., veer left onto Commerce in Port Tampa. Drive down Commerce to its terminus and hang a left into the park. From there, folks can either hit up the dock and boat ramps up front, or drive to the back and find a nice and shady pavilion. Concerned about it being crowded? Call ahead of time and reserve one at (813) 274‑8615.
My first visit was in 1986 via bicycle (GT World Tour) with a bunch of friends. Boom box blasting M.C. Shy-D’s «Gotta Be Tough» in hand. We would spend all day out there freestyling and killing enough D batteries to power a small African village. So nostalgia plays a huge part in my rating. The scenery certainly helps though, and I’ve got to be honest, in Hillsborough County, there are very few places that offer a sandy water view and picturesque sunsets; there is Bahia Beach (Ruskin), Cypress Point Beach Park, Ben T. Davis Beach and Picnic Island. Of the four, Bahia Beach is the smallest and the illest because you can see Downtown St. Pete off in the distance AND there is a restaurant and tiki bar on-​site. Picnic is a very close second due to its size. Plenty of parking and shoreline to go around.

It was my first time there today, I will definitely come back. Had a wonderful time with my friends having potluck and get together. There is a playground, shelters and large grills, free parking. The small beach is nice and quaint to chill out on with pretty white sand. Its not that good to get into the water. I didn’t feel the water is real clear. There was brown seaweed everywhere. Overall a great, clean, and beautiful place for family and friends. Awesome fishing spot. White sand, no rocks. Redfish can be seen in the clear water. Lots of picnic tables in the sun. Only thing separating your dog and the other side is a rusted chain link fence that just reached the tip of the water. Very easy for a pet who’s in the water to escape. Dog drinking and washing station by entrance. Besides that, the beach view was amazing. Great view of boats, Tampa Bay Area and St. Petersburg. Free parking and was not very crowded. Challenging disc golf course. Long and short throws and fun to play. They also had a sand volleyball court. Good times :)

If your a woman trying to walk your dog, this park is dangerous! I’ve occasionally seen what appear to be homeless man (although it could’ve been city workers since there were three city vehicles parked nearby) hanging around the dock area. In the past I didn’t pay much attention to them bc I was going to the dog park. But today one of them came over to the dog park and confronted me because he didn’t like the fact that I had a large dog in the park. And I observed another guy who had binoculars out starring at woman’s butts when they bent over to play with their pets!!! Ridiculous! This place is nasty and dangerous!

Picnic island Park is a nice little park hidden by the ports. It has picnic pavilions with bay views, a playground, a disk golf course, a shallow boat ramp with a small pier and a designated fenced in dog beach. The beaches are not really nice enough to swim on or even to walk barefoot on and that goes for the dogs too.
4 stars because my dog thought it was fun but could use some improvement. It is nice to have a beach area fenced in so that you can let your dog off leash to play in the water. The dog park area is located by the boat ramp and is large enough for a lot of dogs to play. There is a few benches for the human companions but I tend to stay close behind my dog the entire time just in case she runs into trouble. The dog beach area is very rocky and not very dog feet friendly. Most dogs leaped over them anyways to splash in the water (a few brave humans did too) but my dog wasn’t having it.
The boat ramp seemed way too shallow. The tide might have been out but the ramp didn’t look steep enough to tow a boat out of it without submerging your vehicle. There is also no where to tie off and the pier is cement so it does not rise and fall with the water making it too high to get too from your boat.
The picnic pavilions are located in the back of the park and the beaches here are not as rocky. It is nice to sit at a picnic table and look out at the water. There is plenty of parking and you can reserve the pavilions in advance for parties. We did notice a lot of single men sitting in their cars eating. Probably people who work at the port and drove over for a peaceful spot to eat lunch.
Overall, a nice park but I wouldn’t count on the beaches.

This elongated park has a variety of activities for all ages. There’s swimming, fishing, disc golf, two kids play areas; plenty of areas to walk, run, and bike, and a nice dog beach park. There are a bunch of pavilions with giant grills at each one. Great place to have a picnic or party.
The dog beach park is fenced in, and has a water/​rinsing station. It opens up to the bay, so the pups can swim, or there’s a large grassy area for chasing balls, Frisbees, or whatever your dog does in the grass. There area bags for cleaning up after a number dos. The benches in the dog park are in bad shape. They are falling apart, and have sharp, rusty, jagged edges. Hopefully that will get fixed soon. Some of the parking lots are bad also. They are not paved, and have huge holes. Hopefully, one day they will get around to paving them.
Overall, it’s a nice park with a lot to offer. Most of it is in good shape, and well maintained. With so much to offer, how could I not recommend this place.

The dog beach here is just ok. The pros are :
Free parking
Not too crowded (in fact today we were alone for a bit)
Easy to get to the beach
There are benches for the humans to sit and grassy area too
There’s a water fountain and hose to help keep doggies hydrated and rinsed off.
Cons :
Dirty, murky water
Muddy area to walk thru to get to beach.
Sharp rocks which always cut my labs feet .
That’s it !
Our best dog beach so far is fort de soto. This one will do in a pinch.

Picnic Island is, of course, not an island. It’s located at the very end of south Tampa. There’s some nice picnic areas, cookout areas, playgrounds for kids and a beach. There’s a pier before you reach that area, but I never use that.
The beach is why I go, although it’s not a sandy beach, it’s more of a rocky beach. But if you go during the weekdays, you are almost guaranteed privacy. Not complete privacy, but it’s nice and quiet. It’s not a place to go swimming, but if you’re looking for somewhere to relax, it’s a nice place to go.
It’s gets crowded on the weekends, especially the cookout areas. They’re good for parties, like family functions — I don’t believe drinking is allowed but I could be wrong. Kids will like the playgrounds and plenty of grass for them to run around on.
But I suggest if you’re off during a weekday and you want to get away in south Tampa and just relax and maybe get some sun, head out to Picnic Island.

This review leads me to think about Rachel’s dog. I call it Mocha Chocolate. It looks yummy and beautiful to be as a pal. This park has a beach dog park where the dog can run wild and jump into the bay water to bath. I saw a lot of dog there. They have fence quit a beach area just for the dog. Many brought the dogs and they play with each other. The park also has a station with fresh water to rinse away the salt sea water and sand. Very thoughtful. I bet Rachel will bring her dog one day.
The park is like a finger tip next to McDill Air Force base on the map. You have to pass through some of the industry area before you get into the park including concrete prefabrication plant.
The park offer Frisbee golf, children play yard, pavilion with BBQ grilled and more. The area is surrounding by mangrove. They have beach area and boat ramp to lunch the boat. People are using the pier to fish. The natural beauty makes the park for outdoor activities.

Not scenic, a bit rustic but a perfect Tampa beach getaway from the tourists. Check it out early and you may be the only one there for a bit.

Love the fenced in area for dogs, friendly dogs and friendly owners. It is a great place to relax with your bud!

After moving to Tampa from Boston I didn’t think I would find a park that I loved as much as the Boston Commons. While they are very different Picnic Island quickly became my new fav. The drive through the industrial part of Port Tampa is very misleading in regards to the gem that awaits you. This place is big, clean, has plenty to do, and has awesome sunsets. I’ve been there just to escape for lunch alone, with a friend to learn chess, and with a large gathering for BBQ and each time it’s been the perfect setting. Highly recommend for anyone looking for some outside time with a view but not up for the drive all the way to the coast.

It’s so pretty there, especially on a nice day. It actually almost makes Tampa bearable…

I truly love this beach park. Where to start? Hmm…
I guess I would start with the proximity to Tampa proper. Sometimes I just don’t want to travel all the way to St. Pete or Clearwater. Compared to a lot of the Bay beaches in the area this little corner stands out. Now don’t go expecting Fort De Soto type water but if you want a great view, a not overly crowded beach, and options other than to just lay in the sun this is a wonderful place. It doesn’t hurt that it’s 5 minutes from my house.
They have a fairly large dog park on the premises, my little fur babies love going and just running around. The water does not seem as gross as the Davis Island park.
They have a kayak launch that leads to great flat areas… it’s a bit of an adventure getting there as you go to a little strait through the mangroves. It really is a lot of fun. We’ve caught redfish, trout, and flounder out there. I like to just paddle out and then float reading a book, tanning and enjoying the quiet. You can see birds fishing and even sting rays through the areas with shallow clear water.
They have nice paths through the sand and greenery in the area with little crabs running around… I always enjoy just exploring the area. There’s a public bathroom conveniently within walking distance of all areas of the park.
They also have a frisbee golf field, a small playground for kids, a lot of covered and uncovered picnic areas, plenty of areas to run around the grass and a boat launch. I’ve had several barbecues out there and my guests have always found something to keep them entertained.
My family and I love going there :). For the area and the beaches available in the bay side its the perfect little gem.

This review is for the fishing pier.
I finally came here to fish a few weeks ago. This pier is not as big as others I’ve been to in Tampa, but it’s not bad if it isn’t full. It’s not as clean as Ballast, but cleaner than the Skyway. This pier isn’t very high off the water either. On the day I went, the tide was low and going out. I saw lots of dead fish (trout I think) in the water. There is a boat ramp beside the pier, which I saw a few boaters use. I could see others fishing from both the shore and by boat in the area. Unfortunately I didn’t catch anything, but talking to others there I hear that’s not always the case. I think a warmer day with the tide coming in may bring better results, but I guess I’ll have to see and write about that another time. This place is worth a shot (or two, as I’ll be back).

I love having a place to bring the dogs. Today it was a little smelly with seaweed along the shore. It’s too rocky & seaweedy for humans to swim but the dogs love the water. There are picnic tables and benches in the shade to hang out at while the dogs run up and down the beach.

This park is on an industrial area of the Bay, so it’s not great for swimming, but it’s terrific for all sorts of other activities especially exploring!!! There’s a dog park, frisbee golf, covered picnic/​barbecue area. It’s a great place for a walk or to lay out and catch some rays on the beach or the grass. The backside has some lovely mangrove areas. This is one of those terrific in-​the-​know just slightly out-​of-​the-​way spots in Tampa. Stop by Hula Bay after for some good grub.
Depending on the season and the weather it is also popular with kite surfers and for horseshoe crab breeding.

We took our dog to the dog friendly beach section of the park. Wow, so many dogs! They were all running on the sand and splashing in the water. So fun! It’s a pretty decent stretch of beach for all the dogs. Too bad our dog hates water. We were testing whether or not she would join the other dogs in the water (she’s never been to the beach before) but NOPE. She stayed in the shade almost the entire time.
There was a little fishing dock and we saw some boats out. Didn’t get a chance to go to the actual park side of the park though, but it looked like it was a huge area.