A 30-foot adventure tower with a climbing wall and elevated platform now rises over YMCA Camp Cristina in Riverview, giving the 65-acre site a new centerpiece attraction built to test balance, communication, problem-solving and courage. The camp officially unveiled the course on August 12, with young campers Connor and Mackenzie taking the honor of being the first to scale the new rock wall.
The project was funded through financial support from the Odessa-based Spurlino Foundation, part of a multi-year philanthropic effort led operationally by Tampa YMCA Chief Operating Officer Bob Moss, according to the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. Beyond the climbing tower, the upgraded facility includes high elements such as platforms, cables, bridges and other obstacles, plus a high ropes course for individual and group challenges and a zipline that replaces an older existing structure, per the same account.
A Camp Built for More Than Summer
The YMCA says the challenge course is designed to create experiences that build self-confidence and trust, giving participants chances to work together and encourage one another while they navigate the obstacles. As reported by Osprey Observer, the course is meant to serve a wide range of groups, including children, families, school groups, businesses and community organizations, with the YMCA envisioning its use for teens, corporate teams, retreats, birthday celebrations and leadership-development programs.
That versatility is central to the camp's broader ambition. Camp Cristina is aiming to become a year-round destination rather than a seasonal stop, expanding its offerings well beyond traditional summer camp programming, Osprey Observer notes. The facility already offers public birthday party packages that use the challenge course and zipline, starting at $400 for up to 12 children, with options to extend course access time in half-hour increments, according to the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA.
New Leadership Overseeing the Expansion
The challenge course debuted under relatively new leadership at the camp. In June, the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA named Ryan Novo as Camp Cristina's Executive Director, bringing 27 years of camp leadership experience after previously overseeing nine YMCA day camp locations in New Hampshire.
The climbing tower is not the only recent capital investment on the property. Hoodline previously reported that Camp Cristina completed a 50-by-120-foot covered roof over its equestrian arena in August, built through a corporate partnership with AdventHealth Riverview to shade its 10 horses and student riders. Together, the roof and the new challenge course point to a pattern of steady upgrades across the campus this year.
Decades of History, a Booming Suburb
Camp Cristina's roots stretch back decades. The 65-acre property was originally donated to the YMCA in the late 1980s and officially opened as a dedicated outdoor summer camp in 1992, according to Osprey Observer's earlier reporting. The camp sits at 9840 Balm Riverview Rd. in Riverview, and can be reached at 813-677-8400.
The push toward year-round programming comes as unincorporated Riverview has seen explosive growth in southern Hillsborough County, climbing from a population of 71,050 in the 2010 census to an estimated 116,251 residents in 2026, per the World Population Review. That suburban boom has fueled demand for year-round community youth facilities in the area. Camp Cristina operates as part of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, which runs 13 membership facilities alongside the camp and reached more than 280,000 individuals across Hillsborough and East Pasco counties in 2024.
Because the new high ropes course and zipline fall under Florida's regulatory framework for aerial adventure attractions, they are subject to oversight as amusement rides under Florida Statute 616.242, which places such structures under inspection by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection.
