Is Highwoods Preserve safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Highwoods Preserve as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Highwoods Preserve
“Go. Highwoods Preserve is a tranquil, affluent, and exceptionally safe suburban commercial and residential corridor in New Tampa. Violent crime is rare, making it very secure for shoppers, moviegoers, and business travelers day or night.”
About the area
Highwoods Preserve is a master-planned district in New Tampa featuring corporate office campuses, expansive retail centers, and residential communities bordered by nature preserves. Visitors primarily come for destination dining, suburban retail, the regional movie megaplex, or business visits at surrounding office hubs.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Corporate Park
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Highwoods Preserve
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no local bike-share program, but designated bike lanes along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard connect riders to the extensive paved trail loops at nearby Flatwoods Wilderness Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Extremely low violent crime rate consistent with master-planned New Tampa communities
- Affluent economic profile with high median household incomes and negligible poverty
- Well-maintained commercial infrastructure, clean streetscapes, and well-lit parking plazas
- Abundant, accessible, and free parking throughout all venues and shopping centers
Cons
- High-speed traffic along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard poses risks for pedestrians and cyclists
- Isolated incidents of opportunistic vehicle break-ins in large theater and retail parking lots
- Strictly car-dependent layout requiring driving between distinct commercial nodes
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Highwoods Preserve, with only occasional individuals panhandling near interstate off-ramps or major retail turnoffs. There are no homeless encampments or shelters within the district.
What Highwoods Preserve is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Quiet and orderly with corporate commuters and occasional joggers, posing zero noticeable safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy with retail shoppers and lunchtime crowds in a very safe and pleasant environment.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Active around the cinema and sit-down restaurants, remaining well-lit and secure for visitors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Calm and mostly deserted once businesses close; streets remain safe, though standard vehicle awareness applies.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides limited bus service to the corridor via Route 400 along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, but there is no rail transit and headways can be long.
Parking is completely free, abundant, and easily available in large surface parking lots across all shopping centers and corporate complexes.
Things to do in Highwoods Preserve
- Catch a movie or IMAX screening at the spacious AMC Highwoods 20
- Connect to the paved wilderness trails and boardwalks at nearby Flatwoods Park
- Shop and dine along the retail centers flanking Highwoods Preserve Parkway
Local favorites
- AMC Highwoods 20 · Movie Theater · 4.3★ (3850)Massive multiplex featuring IMAX screens, plush recliners, and expanded concession options.
- Stonewood Grill & Tavern · Steakhouse · 4.3★ (1250)Upscale casual dining spot known for oak-grilled steaks, seafood, and craft cocktails.
- Liang's Bistro Asian Diner · Asian Fusion Restaurant · 4.4★ (1100)Popular local eatery serving generous portions of Chinese and pan-Asian favorites.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.