Things to do with kids in St. Pete: the Pier's playground and free splash pad, seven city libraries, Boyd Hill, Sunken Gardens and indoor rainy-day picks.

Last checked 2026-10-10. Facts come from St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation, the St. Petersburg Library System, the St. Pete Pier and each venue’s own page. Listed by type, not ranked.

The St. Pete Pier puts three kids’ spots side by side on the water: a big playground, a free splash pad and a hands-on Tampa Bay discovery center. Around town, the city runs seven libraries, nine pools, a nature preserve with a pioneer village and recreation centers with school-break camps.

Who to call

  • St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation: 727-893-7441
  • President Barack Obama Main Library: 727-893-7724
  • Boyd Hill Nature Preserve: 727-893-7326
  • Great Explorations Children’s Museum: 727-821-8992

Playgrounds and splash pads

From the Pier’s visitor page:

  • Glazer Family Playground, St. Pete Pier: a nautical-themed playground with slides, swings, climbing structures and kids’ obstacle courses, between the Bending Arc sculpture and the splash pad.
  • Majeed Foundation Splash Pad, Pier Plaza: a fountain and splash pad with large and small water jets, shade trees and a covered pavilion. Free. (Dogs are not allowed on it.)
  • Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, on the walkway out to Pier Point: hands-on exhibits on Tampa Bay’s ecosystem, run by the nonprofit Tampa Bay Watch.

City pools with their own splash pads (Childs Park, E.H. McLin, Fossil Park, Jennie Hall and Lake Vista) charge $1 for ages 3 to 12; see summer camps and pools.

Note: city code bans dogs from city playgrounds and athletic fields.

Story times and libraries

The St. Petersburg Library System has seven libraries, and its early-literacy programs are on the library events calendar. Caregivers must stay with their children in every early-literacy program.

Library Address Phone
President Barack Obama Main Library 3745 9th Ave. N 727-893-7724
Childs Park Community Library 691 43rd St. S 727-893-7714
James Weldon Johnson Community Library 1059 18th Ave. S 727-893-7113
Mirror Lake Community Library 280 5th St. N 727-893-7268
North Community Library 861 70th Ave. N 727-893-7214
South Community Library 2300 Roy Hanna Drive S 727-893-7244
West Community Library 6700 8th Ave. N 727-341-7186

Dance, Baby, Dance at the main library is for infants up to 18 months with a caregiver. It is limited to 50 children, first come, first served, with free tickets at the Youth Services desk in the children’s area.

All St. Petersburg libraries are closed Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, for staff development, the library says.

Nature and outdoors

  • Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S: trails, the Dr. Vargo Birds of Prey Aviary and the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, with ranger programs and family events on the parks calendar. Its family Trail-or-Treat is on Halloween; see Halloween events.
  • Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St. N: a tropical garden with flamingos. Children 2 to 12 are $8, adults $18.
  • City beaches: Spa Beach by the Pier, North Shore Beach and Maximo Park Beach; see spring break for details.

Rainy-day picks

  • Great Explorations Children’s Museum, 1925 4th St. N, next to Sunken Gardens. Hours and admission are on greatex.org; call 727-821-8992.
  • St. Petersburg Museum of History, in the Pier District: the Pier lists its Flight One Gallery with a working replica of the Benoist XIV airboat, and the Odditorium.
  • The Dalí Museum, One Dalí Blvd., open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and to 8 p.m. Thursdays.
  • City libraries, above, are free.

Camps and school breaks

The city’s recreation centers run full-day camps on every Pinellas County Schools break: Fall Camp Nov. 23 to 25, 2026; Winter Camp Dec. 21 to 31, 2026; Spring Camp March 15 to 19, 2027; and summer camp June 1 to Aug. 6, 2027. Details are on spring break and summer camps and pools.

What this means for you

  • The Pier playground and splash pad are free, and the Discovery Center is next to them.
  • Libraries are the free rainy-day choice, with seven branches across the city.
  • Holiday-season kids’ events are on holiday lights and Christmas events.

Related: free things to do, parks and trails and schools.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free splash pad in St. Petersburg?

Yes. The Majeed Foundation Splash Pad at Pier Plaza on the St. Pete Pier is free, next to the Glazer Family Playground. Five city pools also have splash pads inside, with $1 admission for ages 3 to 12.

Where are story times in St. Petersburg?

The St. Petersburg Library System runs early-literacy programs at its seven libraries, listed on its online events calendar. At the main library, 3745 9th Ave. N, Dance, Baby, Dance is for infants up to 18 months with a caregiver; tickets are free at the Youth Services desk.

What can kids do in St. Pete when it rains?

Indoor options include the seven city libraries, Great Explorations Children’s Museum at 1925 4th St. N, the St. Petersburg Museum of History in the Pier District and the Dalí Museum.

How much is Sunken Gardens for kids?

Children 2 to 12 are $8 and adults $18, according to the garden. It is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.