View current
Howard Park
weather station
data

Tour the new Kayak Trail

View "Women's Learn to Windsurf Day" PHOTOS!

 

 

 

 

How to get to Howard Park

Please get involved with this group!

62 new shade trees on the front beach!

The most requested addition to Fred Howard Park is to have more shade areas on the beach. Thanks to a donation of over 40 Sabal palm trees and thanks to the many donations and fund-raising events of our supporters, the Friends were able to provide another 22 trees and the materials to install and get them established. Thanks to everyone's efforts, there are about 18 new shade "areas" scattered around the beach. The trees were planted in groups of 3 or 4 oriented specially to provide shade in the hottest conditions of the year.

Howard Park gets a weather station!

Fred Howard Park finally have a way to check the conditions at the park from anywhere in the world. We have a FREE access weather meter on the internet.

On June 25th, 2004, the USF COMPS program installed a $25,000 satellite-linked monitor alongside the west bridge on the causeway out to the beach.

The station monitors: Wind Speed/Direction, Relative Humidity/Air Temperature, Barometric Pressure, and Precipitation. Marine instrumentation includes: Water Level, Temperature, and Salinity.

All these different readings will benefit every group of park patrons, from the fishermen to the beach-goers and of course the windsurfers.

Special thanks to Cliff Merz from USF for making this happen.

 

Attention Swimmers, Bicyclists, Walkers, Fishermen, Kayakers, Beach-goers, Sunset-watchers, Windsurfers, Nature-lovers...YOUR VOICE CAN BE HEARD!

Friends of Howard Park is dedicated to preserving and improving the park, as well as providing positive experiences at the park for ALL our community.
Following in the heels of “Friends of Fort DeSoto Park”, and “Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve”, this not-for-profit citizen’s group is FOR YOUR BENEFIT.
Please become a member, volunteer or simply voice your opinion.

Is there something you’d like to see at the park?

• Shade on the beach? (DONE, 62 new shade trees!)
• A nature walk through the woods?
• A community grow garden? (in progress!)
• A Kayak Trail (DONE) Kayak tours?
• Better conditions for walkers, bicyclists, fishermen and the disabled?
• A free-access weather station on the internet? (DONE)
• Windsurfing lessons or rentals for you and your family? (click here!)

That’s what this is all about!

The excellent County Parks staff wants to hear what WE, THE COMMUNITY would like to have at the park. Your voice WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. The “Friends” group is our opportunity to make positive changes!