Sims Park is the heart of downtown New Port Richey, a city park on the Pithlachascotee River that everyone here just calls the Cotee. The ADA-accessible kayak and canoe launch drops you onto sheltered tidal river water steps from the shops and restaurants, which makes it a genuinely easy, civilized place to put in. Watch which ramp you use: the dedicated kayak launch is separate from the trailer boat ramp at the same park, so you are not jockeying with powerboats backing down. Manatees travel this stretch of river and the whole run through town is idle-speed water, so the paddling stays calm and slow. The park itself has a riverwalk, a floating fishing dock, a splash pad, and a band shell that hosts festivals like Chasco Fiesta, so plan around event days if you want quiet. Upriver the Cotee narrows into shaded, jungly banks toward the James E. Grey Preserve; downriver it opens toward the Gulf at Nick's Park.
Where do I park, and is it free?
- Cost
- Current fee unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Restrooms
- Listed in the checked source (checked 2026-08-20)
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome
The City of New Port Richey lists a kayak launch, toilets, and dawn-to-dusk access. Current launch cost and parking details are not stated; amphitheater rental fees are unrelated.
Access sources: cityofnewportrichey.org (checked August 20, 2026).
How clear is the water?
Tidal river water, sheltered.
What will I see?
- Manatees travel the river through town, most often in the warmer months
- Turtles sunning on the banks and the floating dock, ospreys overhead, mullet flashing out of the water
What's the fishing like?
Tidal Cotee River: snook, redfish, and trout along the seawalls and docks, mangrove snapper on structure.
How do I share the water here?
The river through town is a posted idle-speed zone partly because manatees travel it, so stay slow and give any you see a wide, quiet berth. It is also a city river running straight to the Gulf, so pack out everything you bring and keep trash off the water, since what drops in here rides the tide downstream.
See how it scores before you drive out.
Check Sims Park on the live map