Landscaping, Green Spaces and Public Commons in Urban Tampa

[FlaNatv]

image hosted on flickr


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**

[burnside]

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.

[FlaNatv]

Your assessment of this area may be correct.

[DShenise]

"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.

[burnside]

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.

[FlaNatv]

more ideas for Tampa...

classic fountain
image hosted on flickr

modern design, pedestrian bridge
image hosted on flickr

busy alleys or "laneways"

image hosted on flickr




all pics previously posted on other SSC threads

[JBrisco]

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.


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.

[FlaNatv]

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....

[TampaMike]

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.

[TampaGuy]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

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.

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by TampaGuy

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.

[tampasteve]

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

[TampaMike]

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.

[tampasteve]

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

[FlaNatv]

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.

[TampaMike]

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.

[TampaMike]

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/j...wnt-ar-235407/

[Linguine]

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

[FlaNatv]

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".

[TampaMike]

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.