The recent hurricanes caused significant damage and forced us to close many parks locations, including:
- Conservation, neighborhood, and specialty parks
- Nature preserves
- Sports complexes and rec centers
- Boat ramps
While most park locations have opened, due to damage and continued safety concerns, some remain closed.
Before visiting any park location, please use the "Find Park Status" button below to see if the location is on the closed/partially closed list.
The Bell Creek Nature Preserve is a 477 acre Preserve located east of McMullen Road, south of Boyette Road in Riverview. This preserve was acquired to provide protection for natural plant communities and associated protected species, extend a greenway, preserve a wildlife corridor that was being lost to development, and provide numerous passive recreational opportunities.
The Preserve provides trails through different habitat areas with mature trees and a varied understory, as well as open areas dominated by grasses and herbaceous species. The trails are marked and signage clearly state that the Preserve is only open during daylight hours.
Bell Creek Preserve also serves as one of two administrative offices for the Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department.
Park and Boat Ramp passes
You can purchase regularly priced park and boat ramp passes at the following administrative offices or conservation parks:
- Bell Creek Administrative Office
- Branchton Administrative Office
- Edward Medard Conservation Park
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park
- Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park
Free and discounted passes
We offer annual park and boat ramp passes for free or at a discount to eligible disabled veterans and active duty members or honorably discharged Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves
- Free passes - Disabled Veterans
- 25 percent discount - Active duty members or honorably discharged Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves
To receive a free or discounted pass, you must bring your required documentation to either our Branchton or Bell Creek administrative offices. Free and discounted passes are not available at the above listed conservation parks.
For more information about all of our passes and to find eligibility requirements visit our Conservation Parks and Boat Launch Passes page.
Hiking safety guidelines
Always be prepared when hiking on nature preserves:
- Bring plenty of water
- Download the map
- Tell someone your plan
- Wear proper shoes and sun protection
- Stay on marked trails
- During the rainy season, many trails will have standing water.
- If you think you are lost, call us at (813) 672-7876
- In case of an emergency, call 911