Sims Park

The playground at Sims Park is conveniently located near the restroom, splash pad, and four of the park’s covered picnic shelters. The accompanying shade sail provides relief from our hot Florida sunshine, while benches invite parents to sit, relax and watch the kiddos.

Paved Trails

Take a leisurely stroll along the paved trails, which are fairly well shaded by the park’s Spanish-moss-laden trees. You’ll find plenty of benches along your walk to sit and take in the scenery. As the day draws to a close, the Sims Park riverfront offers a peaceful setting to catch a sunset.

Public Boat Ramp

The public boat ramp is across the river from Sims Park, located on the corner of Main St. and River Rd. The boat ramp can accommodate boats 25’ to 30’ at high tide, and is wheel-chair accessible. You can find a public restroom, a single-person unisex facility, at the ramp. Parking is free, and there is an overflow parking lot for the boat ramp at 6131 River Road. At a little over 0.2 miles, it’s around a five minute walk to the boat ramp.

Orange Lake

Adjacent to Sims Park you will find Orange Lake. It features a paved loop trail (approximately 0.3 miles), and two boardwalks overlooking the lake. Visitors can often spot turtles, ducks, and ibises here. The boardwalks have benches for resting and are well-lit at night. Take note, bicycles, rollerblades, and skateboards are not allowed on the boardwalks. Fishing is not allowed in the lake.

Restroom

The park’s restroom is located in-between the playground and the amphitheater, you can find a water fountain nearby.

Covered Picnic Shelters

Sims park has 5 picnic shelters available. Four of the shelters are located near the playground and splash pad, and the fifth can be found beside the Sims Lane parking lot. Two of the four shelters near the playground have grills. Visit the City of New Port Richey website for reservation information.
In addition to the shelters, you can find a few picnic tables scatter about the park.

Peace Hall

Adjacent to the park is Peace Hall. ADA accessible, the historic church is available to rent for events. The church features original wood floors, arched ceilings, two restrooms, and counter space with a sink. Visit the City of New Port Richey for more information or to reserve Peace Hall.

Amphitheater at Sims Park

Sims Park boasts an amphitheater that is used for concerts and other various events hosted here throughout the year. There are four large shade structures in this area to offer relief from our hot Florida sunshine.

Splash Pad

The Sims Park splash-pad is open daily from 9am until 30 minutes before sunset. Weather changes such as rain, nearby lightning, or a temperature below 55 degrees will cause the temporary closure of the splash pad.

Fitness Equipment

For those looking to stay active, there’s an exercise station that offers a selection of equipment. Set near the picturesque Orange Lake, it provides a delightful setting for a light workout.

Canoe & Kayak Launch

You can access the Pithlachascotee River using the park’s ADA-accessible kayak launch. The closest parking lot to the launch is situated at the corner of Sims Lane and Grand Boulevard. From this parking lot it is a 1-2 minute walk to the launch.

Bandstand

The Ada-accessible historic bandstand is located next to the museum, offering a view of Orange Lake.

Museum & Library

On your visit to the park, you can check out the adjacent West Pasco Historical Society’s Rao Musunru M.D. Museum & Library to learn more about West Pasco’s history(entry fee applies). Click here to visit the museums website for additional information.

Dog Friendly

Dog owners will be pleased to know that Sims Park is dog-friendly(on a leash) and provides dog waste bags for your convenience.

Public Work Stand

The park has a Public Work Stand (bike repair station) offering basic tools for a quick fix-up (located beside the parking lot at the corner of Sims Lane & Grand Boulevard). You can also find a few bike racks throughout the park.

Sims Park EV Charging Station

You can find an EV charging station in the parking lot located at Sims Lane and Grand Boulevard. It currently has parking/charging for two vehicles.

Floating Dock

The park has a long floating dock, a popular spot for fishing from the Cotee River. Don’t forget to check licensing requirements before dropping your line.