Picnic Shelter Reservations

Picnic Shelter

Our picnic shelters offer the perfect outdoor setting for celebrating birthdays, baby showers, company picnics or just a fun day in the park. Gather your friends and come enjoy one of our beautiful parks!

Reservations are not needed but always recommended as shelters have limited availability during peak season times. You can reserve a shelter at least 3 business days in advance and up to 365 days in advance. Picnic shelters that are not reserved may be used on a first come, first serve basis.

The City of Tampa has over 25 beautiful parks throughout the city available for reservations.  You can make a reservation online, by phone or in person. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. To be sure the shelter meets your needs before making a reservation, we recommend you visit the park and find a shelter that will fit your group size. If you have any questions, please call the Shelter Reservation Office at 813-274-8184.

Park Rules

Park Rules

Before renting a shelter or gazebo, please be aware that there are rules and regulations you must adhere to and therefore we recommend you spend a few minutes reviewing these.

 

Credit Card Payment

Payment

You must pay in full at the time of the original rental request. Bring a valid photo ID for all in-person transactions. We accept cash, check, money order, or credit card. Checks and money orders are payable to the City of Tampa.

 

Bounce House and Inflatable Amusements

Bounce House and Inflatable Amusements

Bounce houses are allowed at designated shelters only. 

The bounce house company must be on our approved vendor list or provide a current certificate of insurance to be added. The certificate must name the City as additionally insured. No more than one bounce house per shelter. 

Size may not exceed the following dimensions: 20' length, 20' width, 17' height.

Reschedule

Changing or Rescheduling

If you need to modify an existing reservation including changing the shelter, location, or date, it must be done at least seven (7) days prior to the scheduled reservation date. All modifications are subject to availability and a $15 rescheduling fee.

  • You may decide to reschedule your event due to rain or bad weather. All rescheduled events are subject to availability.
  • A reservation may only be rescheduled once.

Please contact our office to reschedule. 

Refunds

Cancellations with refunds may be requested up to 14 days prior to the reservation date. A $15 processing fee will be assessed for all customer-initiated refunds. No refunds will be provided within 14 days.

  • If bad weather prevents the use of the shelter, you may reschedule your event or request a refund with proper notification by contacting our office on the first business day following your rental. Email your refund request to Park_Shelters@tampagov.net or call 813-274-8184.
  • Refunds will only be given to the original applicant listed on the Permit. Refunds will be reimbursed to the credit card that was used. If payment was made by cash or check, a refund check will be mailed to the address of the person/organization paying the rental fee. Issuance of refund checks takes approximately 4-6 weeks.
  • Once a shelter has been occupied, regardless of the length of time, there are no refunds due to rain or bad weather.
  • The City reserves the right to cancel reservations at its discretion for any reason, including maintenance, unsafe conditions, or a declared emergency. In these instances, refunds will be provided without a fee.

Additional Helpful Tips

Regardless of what type of event you plan on having, here are some helpful tips to make your event a success:

  • Illegal substances, alcoholic beverages, and glass containers are prohibited.
  • Nothing, including decorations, may be affixed to the shelter or tables.
  • Vehicles may not drive on the turf/grass or in unauthorized areas.
  • Fires are allowed in grills only.
  • Petting zoos, amusement rides, water games/slides, horseshoes, and paintball games are not allowed.
  • Dogs must be on leashes at all times, except in designated dog parks. Pet owners are responsible for picking up after their pets.
  • Groups of 301 or more anticipated attendees are considered a special event. Such an event must go through the Special Event permitting process.
Sea Grapes with Picnic Shelter in the background

If you have any questions, please call the Shelter Reservation Office at 813-274-8184.