J. W. Cate Recreation Center

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

The J.W.


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Summary

Cate Recreation Center is located in Clearwater, Florida, and offers a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. The center features a playground, basketball court, tennis court, and a gymnasium for indoor activities. In addition to these amenities, the center also has a large aquatic center that includes a lap pool, a dive well, and a water slide.

One of the main reasons to visit the J.W. Cate Recreation Center is for its aquatic center, which is one of the largest in the area. The water slide is particularly popular with kids, while the lap pool and dive well are ideal for more serious swimmers. The center also offers swimming lessons and other aquatic programs throughout the year.

For those interested in sports, the basketball and tennis courts are well-maintained and open to the public. The gymnasium is available for indoor activities, such as basketball or volleyball, and is a great option for those looking to stay active indoors.

Interesting facts about the J.W. Cate Recreation Center include that it was named after former Clearwater mayor and city commissioner James W. Cate, who served from 1979 to 1996. The facility was first opened in 1990 and has undergone several upgrades and renovations since then.

The best time of year to visit the J.W. Cate Recreation Center is during the summer months, when the aquatic center is open and the weather is warm enough for outdoor activities. However, the center is open year-round, and there are plenty of activities available even during the colder months.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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