Ballast Point Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballast Point Park |
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Jules Verne Park | |
Interactive Water Park at Ballast Point Park
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Location | Tampa, Florida |
Operated by | City of Tampa |
Ballast Point Park is a fun park located in the Ballast Point neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. It sits right next to Hillsborough Bay, offering cool views and lots of activities for everyone.
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Discovering Ballast Point Park's History
Ballast Point Park has a really interesting past! It was once known as Jules Verne Park. This name came from the famous French writer, Jules Verne (1814-1905).
Why Was it Called Jules Verne Park?
Back in the 1800s, a woman named Mrs. Chester W. Chapin owned the land. She also ran Tampa's first electric trolley cars. In 1894, she turned this area into a beautiful park. It was the last stop for her trolley line.
She named the park after Jules Verne because of his famous book, "From the Earth to the Moon". In this book, published in 1865, Verne imagined a rocket launching to the moon from Tampa! How cool is that?
What Can You Do at Ballast Point Park?
Ballast Point Park has many awesome features for visitors to enjoy. Most parts of the park are open from sunrise to sunset.
Fun Features for Everyone
- Playground: Kids can have a blast on the playground equipment.
- Water Play Area: There's an interactive water play area, perfect for cooling off on a hot day.
- Picnic Shelters: You can find shelters for picnics and parties, great for gatherings.
The Fishing Pier
The park also has a long pier that stretches out into the water. It's about 600 feet long! This pier is open 24 hours a day, so you can visit anytime.
There's even a small food spot on the pier called Taste of Boston. They serve tasty seafood, ice cream, and other American foods. It's a great place to grab a snack while enjoying the view.