Unique Sports Parks Keep Florida Pastimes Fresh

Catching a 100-mph hardball in a slender basket strapped to your wrist and flinging it back against a wall in one swift motion isn't something you can do just anywhere. In fact, there aren't many places to even watch a jai alai game anymore. That's what makes St. Petersburg's new public Jai-Alai Cancha such a kick. It's the only municipal amateur jai alai court in the United States and just one of many unique sports parks in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.

In jai alai's heyday, you could wager on it along with the ponies just across Tampa Bay, but you won't find any betting windows here. It's just the pure love of the fast-paced sport that brings amateur players and fans to Jack Puryear Park in northern St. Petersburg on summer evenings.

The National Jai-Alai Association, based in St. Petersburg, plans to begin clinics and rent equipment in fall 2008. In the meantime, bring your cesta (jai alai basket) and ball and play for free or just come out to watch.

For signature Florida sports that anyone can play, you can't beat the world-famous St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Courts and the Clearwater Lawn Bowls and Shuffleboard Complex.

The St. Petersburg courts still look today much as they did in 1940s, but now the sport appeals to new generation. Hipsters of all ages come to play at the St. Pete Shuffle, a free Friday night social event with arts, live music and, of course, shuffleboard.

At the 1920s lawn bowls park in Clearwater, all you have to do is show up in the morning wearing flat-soled shoes, and instructors will show you how to play for free. Show off your skills at an open tournament on Saturdays.

Those who like to live on the edge – skateboarders and BMX freestylers – can ride the ramps, half-pipes and hubbas at more than a half-dozen indoor and outdoor skate parks. The 355,000-square-foot indoor 688 Skatepark in Clearwater also rents skateboards. For those who like to watch BMX trick cycling, go to the park on Tuesday and Thursday nights. You can also find city-owned skate parks in Largo, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Dunedin.

If you go

Clearwater Lawn Bowls and Shuffleboard Complex, 727-442-5329, www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/parksrec/athletics/lawnbowl.asp

Jai-Alai Cancha, 727-893-7298, www.stpete.org/athletics/index.asp

National Jai-Alai Association, www.national-jai-alai.com

St. Pete Shuffle, 727-867-7228, www.stpeteshuffle.com.

CITY RESOURCES

Clearwater, 727-462-6025, www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/parksrec/facilities/rnrc.asp

Dunedin, 727-738-2920, www.dunedingov.com/Editor.aspx?page=departments/LeisureServices/skatepar...

Largo, 727-518-3016, www.largo.com/egov/apps/locations/facilities.egov?path=detail&locId=23

St. Petersburg, 727-893-7298, www.stpete.org/athletics/index.asp

688 Skatepark, 727-523-0785, www.688skatepark.com