Click for a list of Hurricane Milton Recovery Resources. Residential Hurricane Milton Debris Hotline (833) 843-1920 active 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For updates on Hurricane Milton debris pickup and dropoff or Hurricane Milton Debris Removal Dashboard.
No residential waste collection for unincorporated Polk customers on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28. Residents will follow the Holiday Collection Schedule for the rest of the week.
Circle B Bar Reserve will reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Click here to read more.
The following environmental lands sites will remain closed until further notice: Gator Creek Reserve, Panther Point Trail, Rolling Hills Park, Simmers-Young Dog Park (the rest of the park, except for the north side, is open).
The following parks are hurricane debris collection sites and will remain closed for public safety until further notice: Highland City Senior Field (Strickland Pit), Loyce E. Harpe Park, north side of Simmers-Young Park.
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Click Here for Parks and Recreation Contact and Hours Information
Mike Callender
Manager
Phone: (863) 534-4340
Toll Free: (800) 780-5346
Email: MikeCallender@polk-county.net
Street Address:
4177 Ben Durrance Road
Bartow, FL 33830
Office Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With more than 60 parks that include athletic facilities, picnic areas, a historical-oriented park, resource centers, five campgrounds and an ATV park, your biggest challenge will be deciding what to do. Parks and Recreation also maintains 40 boat launching sites, produces special events and conducts a summer program. Boat ramp hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Youth athletic leagues and events also are a big draw. Parks and Recreation oversees more than 120 sports fields and is responsible for 27 youth athletic leagues with more than 12,000 participants. You’re at the right place if you are searching to register for leagues, reserve park pavilions, county baseball, soccer and football fields.
Parks and Recreation is divided into three sections:
The restrooms and parking lots in Polk’s park areas are ADA-compliant.
Polk County-maintained parks and boat ramps listed below are open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reserves/Environmental Lands are usually open dawn to dusk; hours are posted at the entry of each site. For more information on each site, call (863) 534-7377.
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Located in west-central Polk County, the Alafia River Reserve was purchased jointly by Polk County and the Southwest Florida Water Management Distr...
Located in Lakeland, Aldine Combee Park is an expansive, multi-use facility that sits on 19.5 acres of land. It features baseball fields, as well a...
One of Polk County’s older community parks, Babson Park features a new playground and basketball court. It is located between Lake Wales and Fros...
If you’re looking for a peaceful picnic spot with a water view or a playground where kids climb and slide, head to Banana Lake Park. This Lakelan...
Looking for a professional rodeo experience in Polk County? The Bartow Ag Center Horse Arena features a large, dirt-covered arena for rodeos and ho...
Bartow Peace River Landing features an unimproved ramp that can only accommodate small, jon boat, canoe and kayak launching.
The county’s purchase of the Bellini Preserve will protect more than three miles of Lake Marion’s shoreline from development, reducing pollutio...
Bone Valley ATV Park is currently a 200-acre tract of land owned and managed by Polk County. The park boasts 15 trails ranging in difficulty from t...
This park is perfect for a family looking to spend a morning or afternoon outside. Bring a basketball and shoot some hoops with the kids, or pack a...
Lakeland residents rave about Christina Park’s playground area, touting its kid-friendly climbing options and shade. There also are benches for a...
Circle B Bar Reserve, on the northwest shore of Lake Hancock, is a former cattle ranch that today boasts a wide variety of plants and animals. You ...
One of the greatest features of the Circle B Bar Reserve is the Polk Nature Discovery Center. This educational building is the perfect place to sta...
Do you love being surrounded by majestic oak trees dripping with Spanish moss while you camp, fish or just hang out? If you answered yes, Coleman L...
Crooked Lake Prairie is located south of Babson Park.
Come enjoy the shoreline of Crooked Lake, the second-largest lake in Polk County. Whet...
An open landscape dominated by grasses and wildflowers, the Lake Wales Ridge sandhill features a scattered overstory of longleaf pine and turkey oa...