tampa’s signature park
A trip to New York City almost always includes a visit to Central Park. When in San Francisco, you might swing into Golden Gate Park. Likewise, you may take a walk through Lincoln Park when visiting Chicago.
Not every city has a "signature park," but many do, and Mayor Pam Iorio says that Curtis Hixon Park will become "Tampa’s central park." Even with local governments facing an incredible financial challenge, Iorio is still insisting we spend $15 million on upgrades to an existing green space. But let’s play along for a minute, and accept the idea that Tampa should have a "Boston Common." Why is Curtis Hixon Park being chosen for Extreme Makeover: City Park?
There are some pretty good parks throughout the City of Tampa, and a few of them might want to make a claim to be Tampa’s best park. The first place that comes to mind is Al Lopez Park. Immediately after that I think of Lowry Park and the band shell. Sulphur Springs Park has the potential to be a lot bigger than it is currently. Rowlett Park is another nice sized park, although somewhat nearer to Temple Terrace. And imagine if adjacent Rogers Park Golf Course were to be included in the parcel.
But size isn’t everything. Tampa Bay and other waterways wrap around much of the city, and Picnic Island offers great views of the Bay, but has a less than central location. Tiny Ballast Point Park and adjoining Yacht Club offer beautiful views of the bay, as well as the downtown skyline. DeSoto Park is small too, but on McKay Bay, and near Ybor City. Bayshore Linear Park is limited in size, but one of the most recognizable parts of town.
If none of those catch your attention, perhaps you feel that our "central park" needs to be closer to downtown. What about Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park? That is a great park, and is underutilized as it is. Plant Park is just west of the river, too. Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park is downtown south, right between the Marriott Riverside and the forthcoming History Center. Of course, there is also Perry Harvey Park, located in the conveniently named Central Park neighborhood of Tampa.
But then again, Snow Park is just west of downtown on Kennedy and was once in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the smallest park in the world. With Tampa’s small-minded leadership, perhaps this is as "signature" as it gets around here.
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February 26th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I think the awful “Joe Chillura Courthouse Square” park (a.k.a. “the park where pigeons go to die”) or the equally dreadful “fountain park” beneath I-275 in Ybor are more reflective of the local geist.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
The common denominators with the parks outside of Tampa that you mentioned (Golden Gate, Central, Boston Commons & Lincoln Park) is that they are all within walking distance of a large part of their host communities and they all support multiple uses. These parks are also considerably large in size.
The nearest thing that I can see to this in Tampa is Bayshore Linear Park, which doesn’t really support the multi use factor so much, but is within walking distance for a large # of residents and is rather large.
Perhaps, considering all of the options that Tampa is blessed with in terms of year round outdoor activities with nearby beaches and amusement parks negates the necessity to have a “signature park”. There is also a good chance that with reliable public transportation, like a rail system, some of the other large areas that you mentioned could be considered as alternatives to Hixon.