City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park
The City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp at Friendship Park offers a summer day camp experience for children, focusing on recreation and enrichment a...
▌ Editor's read The City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp at Friendship Park is a day camp program offered by the municipal parks department. The website, tampa.gov/parks-and-recreation/summercamp, loads successfully and provides information about the summer camp offerings, including details about registration and activities. The camp is not accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). The website states that all staff undergo background checks, which is a positive safety measure. The program is designed for children aged 5-15, offering a variety of recreational and enrichment activities. Google reviews for 'City of Tampa Parks & Recreation' generally show a rating of around 4.3 stars based on thousands of reviews, with common themes praising the variety of programs and well-maintained facilities, though specific reviews for the Friendship Park camp are not readily available. The camp's social media handles are @cityoftampa on Instagram and CityofTampa on Facebook, reflecting the broader city government presence.
◍
Parks-department programPublic, often subsidized
Who thrives here Ages 5–12
City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park fits middle-elementary campers — old enough for skill-building to land, young enough that friend-group dynamics and counselor warmth still matter more than program rigor. Parents at this age band tend to prioritize a balanced rhythm of structured activity and unstructured play, which is the actual differentiator inside any given community/rec center program.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- Municipal parks department
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Community/Rec Center
- Ages: 5–12
- Hours: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
- Address: 4124 W Bay to Bay Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629
- Cost notes: $80 for the summer (10 weeks) for residents. Financial assistance available.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park
- What ages does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park accept?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park is open to children ages 5–12. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park cost?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. $80 for the summer (10 weeks) for residents. Financial assistance available. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
- What are City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park's hours?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park runs 7:30 am - 6:00 pm. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park is operated by the local parks department. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park provide lunch?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park compare to other community/rec center camps in Tampa?
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park is one of 69 community/rec center camps in Tampa that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
- Summer camp safety and accreditation · Review licensing, supervision, and accreditation signals.
Browse similar camps
Indexable directory cuts for families comparing City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park against nearby options.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp - Friendship Park.
- ReDefiners World Languages Summer STEAM Camp · ReDefiners World Languages · Ages 5–12 · $250/week
- Wellswood Park Summer Camp · Wellswood Center · Ages 5–15 · $80/week
- Alexander Recreation Center Traditional Summer Camp · Hillsborough County · Ages 6–12 · $40/week
- American Ballet Theatre Florida Summer Intensive · Patel Conservatory · Ages 12–18 · $925/week
- Bright Horizons at Tampa · Ages 3–5
- Carrollwood Village Park Eco-Adventure Summer Camp · Hillsborough County · Ages 9–12 · $60/week
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation Jr. Lifeguard Camp at Bobby Hicks · Bobby Hicks Pool · Ages 8–15 · $100/week
- City of Tampa Parks & Recreation R.E.C. Camp (Umbrella) · Multiple Locations · Ages 5–12