Florida Is One Of The Best States For Outdoor Basketball Courts

While Venice Beach, California, the Cage in New York and Jackson Park, Chicago are regions basketball enthusiasts think of when it comes to great outdoor hoop games, there are other cities that also offer great outdoor parks. Courts of the World recently detailed the most popular basketball courts in America, and Florida had a strong presence.

What is the appeal of the outside blacktop? Outdoor city courts and parks have a long history with pickup basketball games. In fact, there have been numerous films capturing the spirit. These include White Men Can't Jump (the 1992 original, and 2023 remake). Others include Love and Basketball and Hoop Dreams, to name a few.

In addition, outdoor courts are often free to the local community. Therefore, they offer a comfortable public space for friends and players to shoot hoops. Furthermore, with basketball being a sport where the games are held indoors, these outdoor courts offer a new way to experience the game. Whether it's with their color schemes or chain nets, they each contain a certain hometown character.

Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are all highlighted by Courts of the World, as cities with the most popular basketball courts. They say Miami has 204 registered courts, which is the third most in the country. Orlando then has 111, and Tampa has 63.

In Northern Florida, Jacksonville is often cited as an up-and-coming city. Whether it's for surfing, residential properties, or just the Jaguars. This also includes outdoor basketball space. They have 68 registered spaces. Moreover, Statista details that there were 6.2 basketball hoops per 10,000 residents in 2022. This ranked 14th overall in the country.

Perhaps the recent success of the Miami Heat and the Florida-based collegiate basketball teams has spiked the interest.  It also does not hurt that, unlike the northern states, the weather in the Sunshine State allows you to hoop outside in a tank-top all year.

So, if you are looking for a new exercise or sporting routine for 2024, lace up those kicks, grab your Spalding, and head to the local Florida outdoor basketball park.

What makes a great skatepark? Essential requirements revolve around safety conditions, open space, and overall atmosphere. In Florida, two skateparks were recently listed among the best in the country.

In SkateboardHQ's feature, "13 Skateparks in the U.S. You Need To Visit," they take you on a tour through some of the greatest bowls in the continental United States. From the Northwest corner of Oregon to the Southeast corner of Florida, this list rolls through a lot of ground.

"You’ll find some of the most epic street courses alongside iconic locations and facilities designed for skaters and by skaters, including the largest full-concrete pipe and one of the oldest-running skateparks in America," SkateboardHQ expxlains.

The largest full-concrete pipe they mention belongs to Lake Cunningham Regional Sports Park, in San Jose, CA. At 68,000-square-feet, it's the largest skatepark in California. As for the "oldest," we'll get to that shortly.

Whether they are built into the recreational facilities of a suburban town, or between buildings on city streets, skateparks can serve a great purpose. Under safe conditions, such parks provide a place for youth and skate enthusiasts alike to support each other while they work on their craft. There is a true artistic and creative component to skateboarding. Furthermore, the sport takes a great deal of discipline. To master a trick (or even to get a feel for riding) you have to go through rounds of repetition. Often, you fall, get up, try again, and then fall again.

Skateboarding is an activity that also can have very little cost affiliated with it. After the price of a board and the necessary safety equipment (such as a helmet and padding), most community parks are free admission.

There are some great organizations (mostly West Coast-based) that thrive off building and restoring skateparks in various communities. Evergreen based out of Portland, focuses on structuring parks for all skill levels. Montana Pool Service, a non-profit organization, aims to connect youth communities with their generous work installing parks across the country.

So let's grab a board and take stroll through the two Florida skateparks that were named among the best in the country.

Skatepark of Tampa, commonly known as SPoT, is located at 4215 E. Columbus Dr. They offer indoor and outdoor facilities. They also sell many skate products, further inspiring the all-encompassing skate experience. Furthermore, SPoT provides various programs, including camps, birthday parties, and a session they call "Girls Meetup."

Here we have the oldest running public skatepark in America. It's been open since 1977. Like the sport, this park has fallen flat, but then bounced back up when many thought it would stay down. Kona Skatepark is located at 8739 Kona Ave. The grounds offer a clubhouse as well given the Kona experience is all about community. They host events, and they will occasionally have live music or competitions at their park.