Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc.

Who We Are

The Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc. provide leadership and support of Tampa's recreation and leisure services.  The important work of Friends makes an impact throughout Tampa by improving our recreation and leisure services and our quality of life.

The Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization consisting of community volunteers, active participants and individual citizens who support the City of Tampa's recreation and leisure programs through various  fundraising activities.

Friends was created in 1988 to support  the invaluable programs of the City's Parks and Recreation Department.  Friends seeds new ideas, rewards initiative and enables others to help promote access and interest in the leisure amenities of Tampa.  Over the years, we have contributed thousands of dollars toward achieving these goals.

What We've Accomplished

• Fund the Summer Roving Arts & Crafts Program, which brings local artist to playgrounds and community centers with special arts projects.

• Purchase vans and a mini bus to transport children, adults, senior citizens and people with disabilities to and from special events, field trips and sporting events.

• Sponsor disadvantaged youth to take part in the annual Teen Conference Weekend of educational, prevention and problem-solving workshops. 

• Sponsor co-ed youth basketball and soccer leagues, equipment and uniforms.

• Provide matching funds to recreation facilities to purchase play equipment, computers and sports equipment.

• Sponsor community special events.

• Purchased glass backboard for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gymnasium.

• Provide scholarships to recreation staff for training and continuing education classes.

Friends Make All the Difference

With the many social and economic challenges facing recreation agencies across America today, we need our Friends!