Nah, they also own the lot on the corner of 12th and Cumberland, just across from the parking garage.

And it's good that it's most of the lot and just not that corner, because it would had been a waste if so. Hopefully they build it to allow whatever pops up next to it to connect with the park.

Interesting, I did not know that.

Steve

I've got ask this, because it struck me again on a recent jaunt around the downtown area... Why aren't there more playgrounds in downtown Tampa's parks? It's no wonder they're typically so dead and devoid of life, save for the occasional day when there is an event going on.

(the worst offender of all has to be Centennial 'Park' in Ybor, which is clearly a plaza, not a park, and isn't a good plaza either)

I've got ask this, because it struck me again on a recent jaunt around the downtown area... Why aren't there more playgrounds in downtown Tampa's parks? It's no wonder they're typically so dead and devoid of life, save for the occasional day when there is an event going on.

(the worst offender of all has to be Centennial 'Park' in Ybor, which is clearly a plaza, not a park, and isn't a good plaza either)

Cos old people hate kids

Good question, hopefully it will change soon. Up until now the only real large "park" was the one by Rivergate tower, and that was really more or a large outdoor art piece than a park - hence the lack or good playground space. Also, until very recently there were hardly any people living in the DT core area, so again, no reason to spend money on playground equipment if there are no kids to use it...hopefully this will change soon.

Steve

I think it really stems from the idea that killed downtown in the first place. Like Steve said no one has lived in downtown. The mindset of the politicians was that downtown is business only, so they never did anything to the parks to make them family friendly until recently I guess.

The new Curtis Hixon Park in front of the new museums downtown will have play areas specifically for children.

^And the history center has some things out front, but I wouldn't call it a playground...

^ ...Most likely because 200 feet away is Cotanchobee park and it has a playground.

Could something like this work in Downtown Tampa...

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4008/hydepark2.jpg

^^
Not bad

Julian Lane Riverfront Park already has some nice canopies like that. The park just needs to be redone and spruced up. Look it up on Google maps. you can see them clearly making an 'X' across the park. Quite beautiful on foot.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/TampaMuseumofArtCurtisHixonWaterfro.jpg
Lookin good

^^Indeed, that looks like a proper park in the making.

I love the park -- Tampa absolutely needs to maximize on it's waterfront location. This is a good start. Will there be cafe space in the park?

Will there be cafe space in the park?

There was supposed to be, but I am not sure if it made it into the final plans.

Steve

I was under the impression that the building next to the Riverwalk was the cafe planned. Don't know if that is the case. And there is also the restaurant in the Museum of Art. It runs up a hefty bill at the end for just one person though.

^Yeah I think Mise en Place was putting something in the Art Museum.

Will there be cafe space in the park?

I saw an early site plan that showed a "restaurant" where the construction trailer is currently situated near the southwest corner of the park. Not a large space there, so a small cafe would be ideal.

I think that another restaurant with mostly outdoor seating would be ideal for the location. The restaurant should have decorative canopies, and plenty of cover from our rain storms in the summer. Something like this, minus the Hawaiian type tables.

http://www.charitycruise.com/lines/norwegian%20cruise%20line/pride%20of%20america/photos/pride%20of%20america%20aloha%20cafe%20outdoor%20dining.jpg

^ Perfect! The outdoor seating would overlook the river. I like it.

Kiley Park could be a good place to open a good number of cafes and restaurants. With the pedestrian bridge there connecting Curtis Hixon to Kiley, I think it would be nice. I don't just leaving it as it is after everything is done is going to work. It's not really a park even with the greenspace. I don't know, I just don't see why it should be left as it is.

^Agreed. Kiley Park will be an awkward waste of space once again. Apparently there was no inexpensive way to reconfigure it since it sits on top of a parking structure, so they just removed all the trees and put down sod.

^Agreed. Kiley Park will be an awkward waste of space once again. Apparently there was no inexpensive way to reconfigure it since it sits on top of a parking structure, so they just removed all the trees and put down sod.

Well instead of them putting the tracks for the water fountains back in they should have made that an open area where people could have hosted more events, picnics, more space for artists, and spaces for various other things.

^ Is THAT what those concrete bands/squares are??? I've wondered all this time what the heck those were supposed to represent.

We just need to landscape interstate 275 N from the interchange to Pasco for a start...it looks horrible!

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/curtis-hixon-waterfront-park-dubbed-downtown-tampas-living-room-close-to/1064102

TAMPA — With about a year to go as mayor, Pam Iorio will soon christen her most visible project: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

With a price tag of more than $43 million, the park features a dog run, a playground, fountains, a riverfront stage area, elevated seating areas and arty details throughout, along with an unobstructed view of the University of Tampa minarets from Ashley Drive.

It also holds the new Tampa Museum of Art, scheduled to open in February, and the Children's Museum, set to debut later this year.

Iorio has billed the area as downtown's living room, the front door to the new museums and a destination for the entire region. The public grand opening will be Jan. 24.

"It's going to be a gift to the community when it's all unveiled this year," Iorio said. "Most of the community doesn't know what's been going on behind those construction gates."

The final bill is about $6 million more than the original contract approved by the Tampa City Council two years ago. That's in part because the city decided to roll other projects into the park contract, including repairs to a crumbling Hillsborough River seawall, work on a parking garage under the old Kiley Gardens and road improvements.

City finance director Bonnie Wise said that allowed for savings that helped pay for other features, such as the dog park, a pavilion and a concession stand with rental space for vendors. Those were part of the park's master plan, designed by Thomas Balsley, but weren't included in the original contract because of budget concerns.

"We took a cafeteria approach to it," Iorio said, explaining that the items were put back in when money became available.

Wise said the funding sources for the park, including gas taxes, sales taxes, downtown property taxes and various city trust funds, are designated for specific purposes, such as buildings, trees and parking facilities. That means the money couldn't have been used for things such as city workers' salaries, she said. Iorio battled with the unions this year over her decision to freeze pay citywide.

A $1 million donation from the Lykes Foundation paid for two fountains, one along Ashley Drive and another near the river.

Eventually, the park will include a two-level riverfront restaurant.

The park can hold 10,000 people for special events and concerts that can be viewed from a variety of perches: tree-shaded benches, grassy stadium seats and lighted wooden platforms that jut out from the sloped "grand lawn."

"The nice thing is you discover all these spots," said project manager Pete Karamitsanis, as he surveyed the view Friday from a wood deck above the lawn.

Once the art museum opens, people can check out goings on from a museum balcony or a patio outside the museum cafe. The cafe, Sono, will be run by Mise En Place, a popular South Tampa restaurant.

The Jan. 24 grand opening will start at 1:30 p.m. and will include music, dance performances, food and participation by the Lowry Park Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry and area sports teams.

The Gasparilla parade on Jan. 30 will end at the park, where Collective Soul will perform with the river as a backdrop.

Iorio called Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park the place to party that day because police will be cracking down on bad behavior on Bayshore Boulevard.

Other events have been planned for throughout the year: monthly jazz brunches from March through December, a Florida Orchestra concert in April and possibly movies hosted by the Tampa Theatre.

"This has to be an urban park," Karamitsanis said. "This is what an urban park should be."

There are a few odd features. The concession stand also holds restrooms, so the sign over the window where people will order their food reads "Restrooms."

And, at the request of state officials, a sign was posted by the fountains, in which people can cool off. The warning: Stay out if you have diarrhea and put swim diapers on children.

Karamitsanis said state officials had also wanted a "no diving" sign, even though there is no way to dive into fountains that are flush with the pavement.

"It's the state," he said. "Don't blame it on the city."

I'm liking the 2-story restaurant idea. I'm hoping I can squeeze out of my 2 classes that day to be at the grand opening. Even though it will be 2 weeks after classes starting. If there is free food though, I'm definately there! lol

And, at the request of state officials, a sign was posted by the fountains, in which people can cool off. The warning: Stay out if you have diarrhea and put swim diapers on children.

Karamitsanis said state officials had also wanted a "no diving" sign, even though there is no way to dive into fountains that are flush with the pavement.


That's rich. The things lawyers concern themselves with amuses me.

Is there also a "no public bathing" sign and 500 other common sense signs? Seems like common sense is dying faster and faster every year.

Is there also a "no public bathing" sign and 500 other common sense signs? Seems like common sense is dying faster and faster every year.

I am just waiting on the first lawsuit claiming that the fountains caused someone harm.:bash:

Is there also a "no public bathing" sign and 500 other common sense signs? Seems like common sense is dying faster and faster every year.

Common sense was flushed down the same toilet as that diarrhea.

Steve

Curtis Hixon park Coming Along....opening on Sunday 1-24-10. Collective Soul will be playing there Saturday night 1-30 as part of the gasparilla celebration. Im really hoping the city uses this park as intended, especially when I go over to Vinoy park in St. Pete at all there festivals, concerts, shows, etc....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/rshally/CurtisHixon1-19-10.jpg

While I am glad they decided to "open" up the waterfront and I understand the park is not completed just yet, it seems like alot of money for what they ended up with. IMHO

Downtown Tampa's new waterfront park debuts Sunday
By Shelley Rossetter, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Jan 22, 2010 06:34 PM


TAMPA — The roar of pressure washers cut through the air, as crews scrambled to clean away dirt and debris to reveal the reward of more than 18 months of physical labor.

City officials won't be the only ones beaming with pride at Sunday's grand opening of the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

The hard hats are proud too.

Throughout the week, electricians put final touches on lights overlooking the fountains, crews fixed out-of-place pavers, and landscapers trimmed tree branches. Workers also spray-painted the lawn green in defiance of winter.

"I just walk around and marvel at the changes everyday, to see everything come together is amazing," said Rick Lee, a superintendent who got his jeans dusty with last minute fixes.

The 8-acre park, designed by Thomas Balsley and Associates of New York, is the first of three projects debuting downtown this year. It features two interactive fountains, a children's playground, terraced lawn, dog run, bathrooms and a revitalized portion of the Riverwalk.

Next up is the Tampa Museum of Art, opening Feb. 6, and then the Glazer Children's Museum in late summer.

Workers at the Children's Museum are still in the thick of construction.

"I go home and tell my wife all about the crazy things I am working on," said Jose Bautista, a framer and drywaller there.

There's a ceiling shaped like a wave, and a column that is asymmetrical, both new tricks for Bautista.

In the bathrooms, workers laid glass tiles Wednesday meant to simulate the flow of water from the drain to the floor, something tile foreman Mitch Robertson considered a welcome challenge.

"I like these types of jobs; they test your skills. The layouts are complicated; you're using different materials, and it takes a lot to make it work," he said.

The building's design is the result of an architectural collaboration between GouldEvans, the firm that designed the University of South Florida's Marshall Center, and HaizLip Studios, a firm that specializes in children's museums, and is being built by J.O. DeLotto and Sons.

Over at the Tampa Museum of Art, designed by California architect Stanley Saitowitz, the dust has cleared and finishing touches include the installation of priceless art.

It's precision work, hard-hatted Lee found out.

"I learned about how light affects art, how heat affects art, how humidity affects art," he said. "I even learned how the touch of a finger can affect art."

Lee, a senior superintendent for Skanska, the company overseeing the construction of the park and Tampa Museum of Art, worked on the project from day one, replacing a crumbling museum with modern architecture.

Crews at all three sites said they are proud to have a part of something so important to the city.

"Everyone who worked on these projects put more of an emphasis on quality of work because these are places they will be bringing their families and children to and saying, 'I worked on that,'" said Chuck Jablon, a vice president on the project for Skanska.

Bautista said he will be excited when his kids get to see his efforts at the children's museum.

"I am definitely planning to bring them here," he said. "It feels good to know you had something to do with their fun."

On Thursday, electrician Richard Kuzma pointed proudly to the LED-lighted tiles in the park's fountain areas, in part his handiwork.

Watching the project evolve in his eight months on site left him marveling.

"Just seeing it come from the dirt phase to this type of quality is really invigorating," he said.

With the walkways dust-free and the grass a perfect shade of green, the hard hats will fade into the background until the next reveal is ready.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/downtown-tampas-new-waterfront-park-debuts-sunday/1067451

^^
I've been driving by there the last few days. It looks real nice.

And for the first time in a while, the traffic signal at Ashley/Zack is in normal operation, instead of flasher mode.

It might just be the first time I've noticed it, but there's some new blue lights at the park tonight.

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/JordanPhoto_album/Tampa_Museum_of_Art_Curtis_Hixon_Wa.jpg

My dad came to visit on Friday. I wanted to walk around a park or something but there was not much I could think of, I ended up in St. Pete despite me hating the drive.
I passed by the park and museum and saw it was looking great. That is going to be my new relaxing/hang out place. Did anyone go today?

I walked down today and it's a great space. I'll be eating lunch there frequently.

I believe both are the LED lights under the fountains. And you can also see the lghts under the platforms own the lawn.

There's a article on tbo.com about the grand opening and they spoke with a few skateboarders who were told to leave for causing disruption during the whole event. They said it's discrimatory that they were kicked out from the park. HELLO!!! There's a skatepark 7 blocks east from Curtis Hixon, leave it alone. Although the skate park does need some work and added obstacles.

So I went down there... yeah, I read the plans right... I don't like the solution they came up with for the whole area much at all... PLEASE can we get some competent urban planners working for the city?

Went to the opening, met the mayor, pics and all. I asked her about Kiley park area, and she indicated they could not plant any trees there because of the amount of maintenaince they require, and as the city builds these parks, the monies to maintain the parks is shrinking, so you will see parks built that can pretty much take care of themselves(low maintainance)...there were alot of nice features, i'd call it a modern urban space as opposed to a 'park'...concerts, evets and festivals will be boiling hot during the day in the summers, not alot of shade trees, shaded benches, areas etc...the dog park was very small, but my biggest gripe would be the amount of concrete used....lots and lots of concrete. All in all though, it is a nice space!! I also asked the mayor about the "TAMPA" sign, and she added it wasnt in the budget....

I like it for what it is - The front lawn for two museums and an entertainment type park on the Rvierwalk. Hopefully Tampa will eventually get a real urban park, but this is pretty nice given the space involved and the money available.

Steve

Here is an interesting sign near the fountains:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/rshally/DSCN5860.jpg

Went to the opening, met the mayor, pics and all. I asked her about Kiley park area, and she indicated they could not plant any trees there because of the amount of maintenance they require, and as the city builds these parks, the monies to maintain the parks is shrinking, so you will see parks built that can pretty much take care of themselves(low maintainance)...
She gave you an off kilter explanation. The reason the city can't put trees there is because the roof of the parking garage underneath wasn't designed properly for such a use. To put trees there, they would have had to rebuild the roof of that garage. (don't worry, it still leaks even without trees)

In fact, that whole garage is a mess and should have been torn down. The garage could have been rebuilt vertically next to Rivergate Tower on the north side (However, the bank cube would make a GREAT spot for a robotic garage imo), allowing the service road going to Rivergate Tower to be eliminated. Then, the receiving bay for Rivergate Tower could have been rotated 90° to come off Ashley right next to the building (under the new garage), instead of following the river for over 100 yards (that's what makes that huge seawall that will make the riverwalk so miserable around the Kennedy bridge, and makes DT look so nasty from UT)...

With that road, wall and most of the space consumed by the garage freed up, Curtis Hixon Park could not only be about double its current size, but the main green could be tripled in size. Additionally, it would have dramatically improved access to the riverwalk heading south, while also dramatically improving the arrangement and flow of the whole development. The way it is now is a complete joke. You've got a cheap building, service area, a road, and an abrupt elevation change serving as the centerpiece of the park. WHO in the hell looked at that on a plan and said, "yeah, that looks great, let's do it!"

They shouldn't have bothered until they had the money to do it right. Now we're stuck with a half-assed park for at least another generation.

I kind of like the overall concept they came up with. However, for Kiley Gardens, I would turn it into an outdoor art space with a few nice pieces of art. In addition you could place some of those humongous terracotta planting pots which can hold shrubs or small trees.

Can't we just have one of the big companies in the city donate a couple trees? How seriously f*cked up can the city's budget be that it can't afford some trees?

I guess landscapers can't afford political connections.

I guess landscapers can't afford political connections.
lol, watching CNN today and them going through some of the wasted money, we could have millions of $$$ in trees.

Can't we just have one of the big companies in the city donate a couple trees? How seriously f*cked up can the city's budget be that it can't afford some trees?

They're working on it--the city is working to get funds from the community for rehabbing Kiley Gardens with trees. I ran into a friend who's got an internship for it on Sunday. As Jason mentioned, the parking garage was having major problems. I'm not sure if they plan to use planters this time or not, but that seems like a good idea.

Here is an interesting sign near the fountains:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/rshally/DSCN5860.jpg

I do believe this is the first time I've seen the words "diarrhea" and "diapers" etched in stone.

I do believe this is the first time I've seen the words "diarrhea" and "diapers" etched in stone.
lol, the 7 Commandments of Curtis Hixon.

I can see someone reading "bathing" and take a bath in the fountain.

I give it a week until we see a newspaper commentator or 'letter to the editor' make up a satirical David Letterman style list poking fun at the real list.

I'm sorry, but I can't take this thing seriously with all of the ugly that's just to the south. I wish people in this city would actually think before they do things. Or maybe they do, but just suck at it...

It would also be nice if they worried less about skateboarding and the like. It's a public park. You wouldn't put a sign up in a grass opening that says you can't throw a football. Oh wait, yes you would. Just across the river there's a soccer field that can't be used unless you schedule and pay for it. Brilliant. Pretty soon the dog park is going to be under lock and key accessible only by membership.

This is a public space. Fine print: No peasants allowed. :ohno:

These are reasons I want to leave Tampa. Florida in general is a private state, almost none of our public buildings are actually open!
Does anyone know if theres any observation levels of any of the skyscrapers for the public?
Probably not. Almost every single design I've ever seen for Tampa is inward oriented (meaning built for user not for public)
In every other city, you can experience buildings WAY more than you can in downtown Tampa.
Besides this remember when they built the I-4 stuff in Ybor and interviewed people in AUBURNDALE about it. Like they give a shit.

Thats just the mentality here, and it probably won't change.
I dunno what to say bout those idiots on the web, but it always seems that the internet brings out the best. I just wish there were better shade trees.

I just wish there were better shade trees.

I was just there and counted dozens of shade trees that were planted (not palm trees, there are dozens of those too). They are newly planted and it's winter so there's not tons of shade at the moment, but they will grow and provide plenty.

I was more talking about near the street where a shade trees would help out, form what I can see from the pictures, there are no trees in that area.

I was more talking about near the street where a shade trees would help out, form what I can see from the pictures, there are no trees in that area.
Theres a few on both sides of the fountain. Of course it would be nice for more, but most of trees in areas where people will be sitting or standing.

So I was wondering, wouldn't it be a good idea to connect riverfront park to the performing arts center/ riverwalk?

It's a pretty nice park(as for trees and shade).

So I was wondering, wouldn't it be a good idea to connect riverfront park to the performing arts center/ riverwalk?

It's a pretty nice park(as for trees and shade).

Someone hasn't seen the full plan :). It will be connected. There will be a pedestrian bridge under the Cass street bridges. If I remember right there is a rendering down where it's closed off at the new Curtis Hixon Park.

Wait, so they're not going with the pedestrian bridge over Cass St. now?

Wait, so they're not going with the pedestrian bridge over Cass St. now?

When was that part of the plan? It would take quite a ped bridge to go over two draw bridges. It will go under like the one already in place under Platt. At the moment it just takes a detour inland a bit which is doable--I follow that path every time I go to the park.

So I was wondering, wouldn't it be a good idea to connect riverfront park to the performing arts center/ riverwalk?
The park is almost criminally underused, but I doubt they will ever create a bridge. Maybe as the Riverwalk is completed further north, they can spruce up the entrance along Laurel.

When was that part of the plan? It would take quite a ped bridge to go over two draw bridges. It will go under like the one already in place under Platt. At the moment it just takes a detour inland a bit which is doable--I follow that path every time I go to the park.
I think they didn't want to do that because the CSX bridge is quite low and they would have to submerge part of the pedestrian bridge (or something like that).

I realize that this isn't the definitive source for the most updated RiverWalk plans, but it's an interesting watch nonetheless.

http://www.thetampariverwalk.com/experience.htm

Well I suppose it remains to be seen, but the rendering at Curtis Hixon shows a floating pathway under the bridges. But for now it's not so bad to cross the street and cut through the TBPAC, there are even markers on the ground guiding the way.

I heard there was a donation made recently to work on the Kennedy bridge underpass portion, which is huge. Of course I can't find anything about it now.

Here's a snap of the rendering at the park--looks like the pedestrian bridge would go under the draw bridge sections of the Cass st bridges.

http://imgur.com/Dfrixl.jpg

It's a donation by the Wallace Foundation (Don Wallace of Lazydays with the huge mansion on Bayshore) of about 1 MIL.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/dog-killed-at-curtis-hixon-park/1075939

Dog killed at Curtis Hixon park

TAMPA — Less than a month after the dog run at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park opened, a vicious attack left a dog owner grieving.

Moby the Shih Tzu had only been to Curtis Hixon once before Feb. 18, the day he died in the jaws of a 110 pound dog, said Megan Newcomb, Moby's owner.

Her husband, Michael Pack, took the dog there and was preparing to leave when a dog walker came in with a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Lucius and another large dog.

Tampa Police reports say Lucius sniffed Moby as he entered the dog park, returned to sniff him once more, then seized the 10 pound dog by the neck in his jaws.

Pack, tried to free his pet — grabbing Lucius by the mouth.

He told police the big dog bit him on the hand and then bit 8-year-old Moby again. Pack jumped on Lucius who dragged him five feet before getting loose and biting Pack on the leg.

It was too late for Moby.

"They told us his skull was punctured," Newcomb said.

Hillsborough County Animal Services took Lucius into custody for evaluation, the police report said.

Unlike some other dog parks, large and small dogs don't have separate areas at Curtis Hixon Park, and a sign posted at the entrance says owners are responsible for their animals.

"There are standard dog park rules that are posted at every park," said Marsha Carter, a spokeswoman for the parks department. "It's really up to the dog owners to abide by the rules."

Among those rules: No puppies under six months, all dogs have to have tags and vaccinations, and no aggressive dogs are allowed.

Newcomb said a separation may have prevented her dog's death.

"If Moby had been attacked by a dog that was his size he wouldn't have died," she said.

Newcomb and Pack don't have any other pets, and she said Moby was like a child to them. They had the gray, black and white dog cremated.

"It's just devastating," she said.

Thanks, that was depressing. :cry:

Thats terrible we have a small dog that was attacked by a pitbull years ago at the Gandy Beach. The owners had the nerve to run away had I been there that pitbull would've been dead; it was a miracle ours lived. I wonder what kind of dog the big one in the story was.

It's sort of like a bigger, beefier Doberman.

http://slicktiger.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/rhodesian_ridgeback_600.jpg

It's sort of like a bigger, beefier Doberman.



With a mo-hawk.

Steve

This may be an Apples to Oranges comparison....anyway, I was at Disney this past week. I was appreciating all the great landscaping the beautiful streetscaping. There was a large variety of foliage throughout. It makes a tremendous difference, especially here in Florida where we don't have mountains looming in the background, how our cities are landscaped. Without landscaping and streetscaping, our cities become an asphalt/concrete/sand desert. I am not a professional Landscaper but I do recognize the importance of the look that Disney has created. It helps create a certain vibe and atmosphere. It makes the area inviting and comfortable. Now I know Disney doesn't have magic soil and that Tampa could have nearly the same lush urban forest Disney has if so desired. I think it would be well worth the investment to create an urban forest here. Tampa has way too many industrial areas that are eyesores. Cover them up with trees and foliage (plus add oxygen to the air). Of course Tampa doesn't need the vast varieties that Disney has to maintain. But something needs to be done to give Tampa a more polished look. Other nearby cities I dare say have caught on to the mouse. Lakeland, has a beautiful downtown. Also in the industrial areas of West Memorial drive they have made attempts to detract from the industrial roadside with trees lining the side and median. Orlando has for years done well with streetscaping. Tampa has been, I suppose a proud industrial port city...there are some bright spots here in Tampa. However, in the past for the most part, Tampa hasn't placed enough value on this type of beautification. I'm a broken record on this subject.

Was doing an architectural study of the parks in the city. Thought I'd share my pictures.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0330.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0334.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0336.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0332.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0335.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0337.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0338.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0340.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0342.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/scan0002.jpg
Ybor Market's attendance was pretty bad


http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0319.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0320.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0324.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0325.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0326.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/DSC_0327.jpg
Gas Light Park

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/JosefBrisko37/parks/scan0001.jpg

Yes, those would be a few small bright spots. What of the vast areas of N Tampa, E Tampa. The industrial zones around Sr 60 and 50th/56th also Dale Mabry (N of Hills), Florida, Nebraska, Fletcher, N Armenia, Hillsborough. There are a lot of dingy areas all over.....Tampa used to be much worse, they have improved Busch ( the area needs new businesses ), Gandy, some others. So I guess it's moving in the right direction....

Too bad that Gas Light Park is sitting on borrowed land...the last I heard, Lykes corp is waiting for an appropriate time to build their headquarters there.

It's not like we lack empty space to build another park, hopefully once they build something the city will buy one of the many empty lots and build a park.

^The city should buy the Maas site and trade with Lykes.

^The city should buy the Maas site and trade with Lykes.

I like that idea, its closer to the residential

^I meant that to be a solution where the current park would be left intact, so that the city wouldn't have to develop another park, they could just keep this one... I would rather have a development that enlivens the street on the Maas site than on the Gaslight Square site. I also feel that a park on the Maas site would kind of be redundant with Curtis Hixon Park and Herman Massey Park both so close to the Maas site. Plus, razing Gaslight Park would take away a very welcomed greenspace right in the heart of the core. Lastly, why spend a couple million on a new park full of saplings and no shade, when we already have a lovely park full of mature shade trees?

I like that even better. That park I think is great. I use to get lunch downtown and eat in that park every day when I lived closer.

It's one of my favorite spots downtown, because of the shade... I think it needs a water feature for noise mitigation though.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/4564196607_870a9a5872_o.jpg

I am of the opinion that the street scene at the top is more appealing than the lower street scene. I chose two shots from Google's Streetview that I think are "apples to apples" in the same category and nearly identical climates. They are both major N-S corridors near the Heart of Downtown. If possible, I'd like some feed back on what makes one streetscape better than the other. Is there value in streetscaping does it give off a certain ambiance? Is streetscaping a priority or should it be? One thing that pops out to me are the pavers used in place of concrete. There are other things...any thoughts. Maybe I chose the wrong Tampa street, though my searching along Kennedy and Florida revealed a bit of barren desolation (too many little shade, cabbage palms).

Well, the only place where Tampa wins in that comparison is the parallel parking and bike lane. Everything else goes to Orlando hands down. Better shading, better designed, and obviously more street interaction with the retail and restaurants. And seriously, Tampa needs to get rid of the light poles and go more towards what Orlando has.

I think the light poles are the least of the worries in correcting the street scape.

I would say Tampa's is worse because of the parallel parking. The difference is 3 lanes (36') versus 5 lanes + bike lane (~63'). To me that says cars are much more important than people. I was reading something in Azure the other day with an Urban Planner who mentioned cities always have a transportation department, but never a pedestrian department. Its always a focus on the methods of transportation and not the actual people who use the city.

If anything Tampa ought to take the two parking lanes and expand the sidewalks. God forbid someone have to park in a lot or a garage.

I think I agree...remove at least 1 of the parking lanes and widen the sidewalk. ...more space for sidewalk cafes, trees, etc

I was thinking the same. Eliminate one and keep the other. There's some benefits from the parking lanes, but I would rather have wider sidewalks to allow for more restaurants to open up outside dining. And hopefully we van get some developments that can do something like they have done with the Jimmy John's in that Orlando StreetView pic, I espicially like that.

When it comes to parking, we're running out of spaces to build another parking garage. And with it being Tampa and it's lack of designing technique, I don't know if I would want to give Tampa the oppurtunity to build a parking garage without any retail. And it came to me when thinking about all the projects that were suppose to happen in the RiverArts District and the issue of parking, is there any legal obstacles that would prevent the city from giving "x" amount of money to a developer to add another 2 or 3 floors for public parking? Lets say we came up with this before Skypoint or Element was up and TWELVE was 100% a go. Tampa would pay for 3 floors of public parking at TWELVE, 2 floors of public parking at Skypoint, and 3 floors of public parking at Element. We could probably eliminate the Curtis Hixon Parking Garage if that all happened.

It's a bit amusing to me to see you guys catch on to things I wrote/bitched about years ago...

Tampa's grid blocks are also pretty small it'd be nice to see some of the roads get shrunk to grow the usable (and taxable) land.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4569934690_e98f3836c0_o.jpg

Here's a couple of blocks that could use a facelift. By doing so the city would enhance an already popular area. MacDill could use some tree planters like on the OTown pic shows. I can imagine shade trees lining MacDill. At the SE corner with BaytoBay I noticed some decorative sign/sculpture yesterday which looked great. However, that corner could have a fountain, park benches, patterned brick paver, crepe myrtles, etc. Behind that corner at tracks I'm guessing a future LR stop will go in. That would great to get off the train and walk through the park and contemplate your shopping and dining options. The intersection there should be bricked also. If possible, bury the power lines. Give some treatment to B2B also from DMabry to Bayshore. Some nice pedstrian level street lamps. What other enhancements would you propose?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4571132806_8d4e261f96_o.jpg

Here's some inspiration for facelifts. On Orange Ave, Winter Park added new trees, brick pavers in the intersection. Looks Great!!!!! now, I drove through there last weekend. Sidewalk dining, art galleries, nice strolling area. **Please not the different angle of these two pics**

It's tough getting walks and all the other elements of pedestrian-friendly midtown design implemented. I'm inclined to believe it takes a "cultural imperative" to see good projects through and, especially, to see them maintained when completed.

Some of the more attractive ones elsewhere were done long ago, designed for how they would look with decades of use and mature plantings. If you can do it all with many, many years of service in mind, then buried utility races, handsome and durable lighting, stable pavements and any number of other refinements become feasible.

The real killers of Tampa's ongoing reinvention are short-sighted planning, i.e., we'll rip it out in a few years anyway, and neglect after a park or streetscape is no longer brilliantly new.

Your assessment of this area may be correct.

"The real killers of Tampa's ongoing reinvention are short-sighted planning, i.e., we'll rip it out in a few years anyway, and neglect after a park or streetscape is no longer brilliantly new." And the future poster child of this statement is.....Bern Laxer Park. Its utter crap design as built, like they picked up the fountain from some precast concrete yard, and then said, "hey lets throw in a walkway or two." Done.

If anyone had ever seen the original plans for the park, the ones done in 02, and 03 by David Conner & Associates, and compared them to the existing lame job, you'd cry. Even the second pass which was substantially dumbed down from the originals is miles better than what was built.

I don't mean to imply that good work cannot be done, or even that it can't be accomplished in Tampa.

I'm not at all sure how public comment should be brought to bear, but what I can say is that intervention is needed - long before designs are invited - at the point where the original brief is drafted. And it takes very cool heads to maintain credibility at that, or any other stage; one little shimmer of tinfoil hattery, and you're done.

more ideas for Tampa...

classic fountain
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3431121430_3a2e46045f_b.jpg
modern design, pedestrian bridge
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3327565101_3c4e99225a_b.jpg
busy alleys or "laneways"
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6775/019ggf.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2967577575_8b0bf13f9c_b.jpg

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m401/pouinetoksenodohio/IMG_5046.jpg?t=1246364290

all pics previously posted on other SSC threads

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/084402c0-0b3f-4793-b406-033bf1c710e4.jpg

This could be made more pedestrian friendly. IMO I'd like to see this road closed and Plant Park connect directly to Plant Hall.
It should also be noted this fountain does not have a back, which is retarded. I think they could build a 2nd half of it with out ruining it. Plus this fountain BISECTS Plant Halls main wing, so its the perfect spot for a money shot of the building with a nice fountain.

http://www.cigarweekly.com/images/news/Ybor/40_Azulejos_on_the_Columbia._The_Gospel_arrives_in_the_New_World.JPG
Here's another fountain: Columbia Restaurant.

But a grander fountain would be extremely welcomed. Would be nice to see it function too :P

Where is that one alley way between the buildings? That is pretty amazing.

^^^^I was cruising thru the Australia Streetlevel Thread..... lots of cool stuff there....I think the busy "laneway", as they call it, is in Melbourne....

What I really want to see is a Military Appreciation/Memorial Park in Tampa. Names of the Floridans lost in all the wars in past history. Statues of the many military men and women in past wars. Maybe a military fountain/pond in the park. Of course have the trees, open green space, benches, public restrooms, the in and outs. But a park that seriously says thanks to our military men and women of the past, present, and future. I would imagine that the state, city, public and private donations, and MacDill AFB would fund the park with no problems at all. If it means developing a great park for a great cause in a great city.

What I really want to see is a Military Appreciation/Memorial Park in Tampa. Names of the Floridans lost in all the wars in past history. Statues of the many military men and women in past wars. Maybe a military fountain/pond in the park. Of course have the trees, open green space, benches, public restrooms, the in and outs. But a park that seriously says thanks to our military men and women of the past, present, and future. I would imagine that the state, city, public and private donations, and MacDill AFB would fund the park with no problems at all. If it means developing a great park for a great cause in a great city.


Kinda like the Heros Plaza in front of the History Center only it's for Police.

Kinda like the Heros Plaza in front of the History Center only it's for Police.
Well, definitely bigger! I'm talking about a park larger than Curtis Hixon. Something that can hold a Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, WWI Memorial, WWII Memorial, Gulf War Memorial, reflection pond, and some other things that I can't come up with but would make a part of this park. I would also like to see a "Thank You" wall where anyone can purchase a area of the wall for $5 (could be lower or higher but $5 sounds good) to say thanks for our brave men and women.

If you can put the plan together and come up with reasonable financing I am sure the city would be interested, and may provide some land. If it is as large as you are saying then it likely would not/could not be in DT proper, but the city could provide land in a park that currently exists. I would say a good candidate would be River Gate Park. It has a fair amount of history, is basically vacant, and the city has been hatching plans for that park for decades.

Steve

You probably know more places than I do in Tampa, where exactly is River Gate Park so I could see the space? Google Maps isn't really helping me.

I would rather have the park new Downtown Tampa so it can be in the center of the city and not on the outskirts. Some people may take it the wrong way when they see our military park not in the center, kind of like being disrespectful. If I had to choose where to place the park, would likely be near the Heights project, just east of there. Still not really in the center, but that area has time to grow and having a community build around the park would be nice.

River Gate park is in the Seminole Heights area, it is along the river, the park with the castle like water tower. At one time is was planned to be a botanical gardens, condos, etc. but all of those plans fell through and now it is just a park with some open space, the tower, and a few picnic tables. Also, there were plans (when it was planned to be a botanical garden) to have a ferry link between DT, Lowry Park, and that park - perhaps those plans will be revived one day.

Steve

I definately agree, we need a park with a military theme as TampaMike described...However, i was still hoping for a riverside Botanical Garden where the tower is. The neighborhood is blighted for now but that can and should change.

I think there are a couple ideas we would have for parks in Tampa. Our own Central Park, the Botanical Gardens, Military Memorial Park, maybe a Sculpture Park, etc. Problem is, all this requires $$$. And no matter how good/great Curtis Hixon came out to be and the fact that we already started paying for the park before the reccession, some people threw a fit about "wasteful spending" and stuff like that. Just imagine if the city went all out and built all them parks we have mentioned. Maybe we can past our ideas along to the likely winner of the Tampa mayoral race once it becomes more clear. You know how them mayors like to have "their" project. ;)

Meh, I thought of creating a Curtis Hixon Thread, but I'll put this in here for now. FF, if you feel the need to make a CH specific thread, go ahead. :)

Waterfront park invites treks to Tampa
By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 08, 2011
Updated: June 09, 2011 - 7:41 PM

TAMPA --
Beating the heat was as easy as a romp in the fountain at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Brandon toddler Griffin Hermida, 3, raced through spray jets on a recent Saturday after a quick breakfast at a downtown restaurant with his mother, Nicole Hermida, and family friend Michelle Stoner.

Mildred and Marshall Cosby of Temple Terrace watched their three grandchildren play in the fountain before a trip to the Glazer Children's Museum.

Bride- and groom-to-be Nancy Rydberg and Kevin Gibbons played kickball on the park's lawn with family and friends in a pre-wedding "play day in the park." The couple were married the next day at the Tampa Museum of Art.

It was child's play for a pair of youngsters at the Kids Playground. For one family, nearby shade trees were the perfect on-the-river setting for a picnic.

Back at the fountain, even Sweet Pea, a Yorkshire terrier, enjoyed the fountain's wet pleasures on a hot Saturday. His owner, Todd Hendrix of Hyde Park, visits at least every other afternoon.

"It's always bustling," he said as he walked Sweet Pea into the park.

* * * * *

Nearly 18 months after a $43 million makeover, the city's riverfront park is evolving into what city officials had envisioned: a destination that draws people to Tampa's urban core.

Since the park's grand reopening in 2010, 45 park events have attracted more than 115,000 people, city officials say. Events have ranged from Florida Orchestra performances to free movies.

The park, the two museums flanking it and an as-yet unfulfilled project to re-do Zack Street as an "Avenue of the Arts" were at the center of former Mayor Pam Iorio's vision for creating an arts district in downtown Tampa.

In an editorial, Iorio said the vision "focuses on reclaiming the waterfront for the people."

The makeover included two water fountains, restrooms, a dog park, a playground, benches, a public boat dock, elevated seating and art displays.

"It's a welcome atmosphere," Hermida said during her first park visit. From Brandon it's a breeze to take the Selmon Crosstown Expressway straight to downtown and the park, she said.

"This whole development here brings people back downtown," she said. "Tampa, especially downtown, is seeing a revival. This park brings a diversity of people."

* * * * *

The diversity is on view from the offices of Tampa's Downtown Partnership, which overlook the park. Through a subcommittee known as REALM, the partnership promotes outdoor events for the city's open spaces.

Among regular activities sponsored by REALM at Curtis Hixon is a free one-hour yoga class at 6 p.m. every Sunday. In nearly a year, the classes have grown from about 40 students to about 100, said Francine Messano, owner of Happy Budda Yoga Lounge on Cass Street.

"We get young and old," she said. "People practice with their dogs. People stay for picnics. It's fantastic."

Last week, a monthly concert series at Curtis Hixon — Rock the Park — celebrated its first anniversary. The concerts feature local bands and musicians on the first Thursday of the month and are sponsored by REALM.

The park "is definitely an amenity for downtown," said Downtown Partnership President Christine Burdick. "People who live here consider it their front yard."

The redesigned park was a promise made to downtown residents more than two years ago, she said. "As a gathering place, people go there just to do nothing."

But people from outside the city also are seeking out the park, Burdick said.

Regular activities include organized play groups that come to the playground and stay for picnics. A common sight is a downtown resident walking a dog across Ashley Drive on the way to Curtis Hixon's dog park.

Restaurants are seeking an increase in customers, especially on weekends.

A Memorial Day concert attracted nearly 800 people, city officials said. "Our Monday sales went up," said Sami Elhajjajy, assistant manager at Five Guys restaurant, located in SkyPoint condominiums on Ashley Drive.

Pizza Fusion owner Dave Burton has seen the same upswing. The pizzeria, also at SkyPoint, sets up a table at Rock the Park concerts and other special events to take delivery orders. "We feel very happy to have chosen a location to piggyback on events that go on," Burton said.

The Cosbys have been to festivals at the park. They also spend most weekends with their grandchildren. The combination of water jets and a children's museum on a recent Saturday was irresistible. "It's better for them than spending time with two old people," Marshall Cosby said

http://www2.tbo.com/news/news/2011/jun/08/1/stopeno1-waterfront-park-revives-interest-in-downt-ar-235407/

Nice thread.....just passing by, thanks.:)

I took a stroll around Orlando's Lake Eola Park today. It was a beautiful day walking around a Beautiful urban park. My phone-camera was clicking as I had some great views of the downtown skyline. The park has a variety of structures and venues. There is a Pogoda, an Amphitheater, a small restaurant(Relax Grill), a playground, Swan boat rentals, several monuments, and a Landmark Grand Fountain in the middle of the lake. There was a lot of shade and not overly palmed-out. Active abundant feathered wildlife flew, swam and wadled. After making the round we crossed over tree-canopied Eola Drive and ate at a Panera in what I think is a converted old apartment building. All in all it was a great urban experience.

Of course I was also thinking, What would Tampa's Eola Park be? Curtis Hixon? Cotanchobee? I don't think Tampa really has an adequate "Central Park".

She doesn't. Curtis Hixon is way too small to be considered a "Central Park". It's a good park, but wouldn't be considered a "Central Park". Being in Downtown, the only place that would fit a larger park is the Con Agra site, but then you have Selmon that wouldn't do it much justice being right next to it.

In all honesty, I would rather have 4 or 5 smaller but great parks compared to one central park. Smaller parks can be as successful as a central park, like Lake Eola Park, just takes the city to incorporate the right things into it.

If they had re-done Curtis Hixon correctly, it would be Tampa's central park... If they had designed "Central Park's" redevelopment correctly, it would include Tampa's central park. But Tampa doesn't have the money or leadership to do things right. We have just enough money and just enough leadership to do it half-assed. Luckily, most Tampa residents don't know the difference between half-assed and correct, so no harm no foul. :)


and btw, my opinion is that as of right now, Al Lopez Park is Tampa's "central park". Curtis Hixon isn't big enough to hold the scale of events that Al Lopez park can.