KidsBay : Development News

A local resident is working toward building Tampa's first handicap-friendly dog park.

Located on the western side of Henry and Ola Park at 502 West Henry Ave., the Seminole Heights Dog Park is slated to feature a large green space for pups to enjoy without the restraints of a leash, including water fountains, handicap-accessible cement pathways and various activities.

“Seminole Heights has a strong history and we deserve the same -- if not better -- amenities that we find in other parts of Tampa,” says Seminole Heights Dog Park Founder Mauricio Rosas.

According to Rosas, the park will become the City of Tampa's first handicap-friendly dog park and will be dedicated to service animals, as well as first responder K9s who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Rosas, who lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and has an 8-year-old service dog named Roscoe, decided to present the Seminole Heights Dog Park idea to the City of Tampa Park and Recreations Department because he thought Seminole Heights was lacking public green spaces for both dogs and their owners to enjoy; a main focus for Rosas was that dogs needed to be able to enjoy being outside, free from leashes.

“Service dogs can pretty much go in and out of anywhere and, if they're training, have free rein in public parks,” he says. “I think other dogs need to have the same opportunity as Roscoe. This project is about the community.”

Already backed by an extensive list of local sponsors including Dallas 1 Construction and Development, Seminole Heights Foundation, Courteous Canine, Ginger Snips Beauty Salon and Spa, Health Mutt, Phoenix Glass Studio, Forever Beautiful Salon and Wine Spa and Mickey's Cafe and Bakery, Rosas is looking for 16 businesses that can raise approximately $2,500 each to cover the initial $38,000 in project costs, which is expected to see completion within one year.

A fundraiser for the park will be held on May 5th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Courteous Canine's main campus in Lutz at 3414 Melissa Country Way. The event is expected to feature Taco Bus, a local mobile grooming truck, free dog training advice and agility courses. For more information on how to volunteer or become involved with Seminole Heights Dog Park, visit the official Facebook page.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Mauricio Rosas, Seminole Heights Dog Park

The 25-year-old St. Petersburg Pier Aquarium is moving, expanding and rebranding, bringing the new Secrets of the Sea Marine Exploration Center and Aquarium concept to John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach.

Slated to open by November 2013, Secrets of the Sea will be the anchor attraction at John's Pass Village on Gulf Boulevard and 129th Avenue in Madeira Beach, featuring a broader, more technology-focused marine exploration concept.

Construction on the 13,500-square-foot, approximately $4 million facility began on April 23rd.

“The Pier Aquarium has been bursting at the seams for a long time while the public's interest in the ocean environment, cutting-edge technology and marine science continues to grow,” says Pier Aquarium President and CEO Howard Rutherford of the 2,000-square-foot St. Pete facility. “The unknown future of The Pier created an extraordinary opportunity for a bold, new approach to the Aquarium's mission.”

The Pier Aquarium will close on May 31.

Rutherford plans for Secrets of the Sea to become one of an epicenter for marine research and one of Madeira Beach's premier attractions, bringing the public together with state-of-the-art marine research, innovation and technology interactive experiences.

Various marine-related activities, aquariums, galleries and exhibits developed by the St. Petersburg Ocean Team will focus on research concepts in a fun, explanatory fashion; exhibits include Essential Estuaries, Touch Tampa Bay, Fish at Risk, Corals on Acid, Crustacean Station and Moon Jellyfish.

Local design-build team Biltmore Construction and Harvard Jolly Architects are working on the construction of the two-story structure with Lexington Design and Fabrication designing and building innovative Mystery Stations throughout the center, showcasing how several sea habitats and lifeforms are benefiting from some of the ocean's unsolved mysteries.

“We hope to create a new generation of environmental stewards,” Rutherford says.

A public/private partnership between John's Pass Village owner AEGON USA Realty Advisors, Enterprise Florida's State Small Business Credit Initiative and a local lender, the new aquarium space was recently endorsed by Madeira Beach Mayor Travis Palladeno.

Additionally, a collective hotel partnership called the Secrets Premier Hotelier Group has been instrumental in helping Secrets of the Seas achieve its capital campaign target to begin construction, agreeing to provide in excess of $100,000 over the next five years in support of the new marine attraction.

The partnership includes TradeWinds Island Resort and Guy Harvey Outpost, St. Pete Beach Sirata Beach Resort and Conference Center, Lowes Don CeSar Hotel, Postcard Inn, Dolphin Beach Resort, Bilmar Beach Resort, Grand Plaza Resort Hotel, Alden Suites, Sunset Vistas Beachfront Suites, Beachcomber Beach Resort and Hotel, Plaza Beach Resorts and Barefoot Beach Hotel.

Secrets of the Sea is expected to generate nearly 250,000 visitors annually and pump $8 million into the local economy, reaching more than 40,000 students from six different countries.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Howard Rutherford, Pier Aquarium

Two local Tampa Bay business owners and Davis Islands residents have teamed up to keep island dog owners and visitors happy and healthy, creating Friends of Davis Islands Dog Parks through the Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Program.

Assisting City of Tampa Parks and Recreation in maintaining and improving both the Davis Islands Dog Beach and Dog Park, Carolyn Bigley of Davis Islands Pet Care and Jenn Fadal of Wag Natural Pet Market and Bathhouse formed the not-for-profit Friends of Davis Islands Dog Parks as an on-going, long-term community effort in partnership with Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc.

Bigley and Fadal's new organization will work to raise funds and encourage volunteerism in an attempt to help create, maintain and improve off-leash waterfront dog parks; promote responsible pet ownership and environmental protection through community outreach and events; and create an environment where dog owners follow good “dog park etiquette.”

“Residents, veterinarians, dog trainers and behaviorists have mixed feelings about dog parks, but in my opinion, they are necessary. Most behavioral problems in dogs are largely due to a lack of exercise -- dogs cannot be leashed all of the time. They need to be able to run free and socialize and these parks give them the opportunity to do so,” Bigley says.

Adding that most dog parks end up having challenges, she says Davis Islands' public dog spaces are no different.

“Irresponsible pet owners not picking up poop is the number one issue, especially at the Dog Beach so close to the Tampa Bay,” she says. “Reports of dogs being dumped at the parks and an overall general disregard and respect for the park has made many islanders no longer use the parks, especially on the weekends.”

Bigley and Fadal are looking to change that, believing care for the parks has slowly declined over the years. Bigley says dog parks should benefit the community by providing a safe, clean area for dogs to be off the leash.

But in just the past few months, many improvements have already been made to the Davis Island Dog Park, thanks to John Allen and Earl Olson of Tampa Parks and Recreation: Fences have been repaired and painted and kiosks and benches have been fixed and are being maintained.

One of Friends' first fund-raising projects will be to create a memorial plaque wall where folks can purchase a plaque in memory of a lost pet. Plans for a memorial garden are also in the works.

“Friends started as a simple idea of making the parks cleaner, fixing up a few things and just beautifying them a bit, but its mission has become much more than that," Bigley says. "We encourage residents to get involved.”

To become a sponsor or to learn more about getting involved with Friends of Davis Islands Dog Parks, including weekly and monthly clean-ups, visit the official website and Facebook page.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Carolyn Bigley & Jenn Fadal, Friends of Davis Islands Dog Parks

Offering private early childhood education for children ages six weeks to 5 years old, Georgia-based Primrose Schools is expanding to the South Tampa area on Kennedy Boulevard between Packwood and Rome avenues.

The $6.6 million construction project at 1700 W. Kennedy Blvd. near the University of Tampa, held a groundbreaking in December 2012 with plans to welcome the first round of students to the 22,700-square-foot center in August 2013.

Commercial general contractor and developer Phoenix Construction Company of Tampa is overseeing the construction and development of the new early childhood education center made up of 17 classrooms, a conference room and a training center.

This will be the sixth Primrose School location in Hillsborough County and the third in Tampa with two locations currently at Cross Creek Boulevard in North Tampa and Whitmarsh Lane in Westchase.

"There's a high demand for early childhood childcare in South Tampa, especially for children under the age of 4 because not many centers down here take infants,'' says Primrose School of South Tampa co-owner Jana Radtke. "We are thrilled to bring the best possible childcare experience to our South Tampa communities and understand the importance of instilling a love of learning throughout a child's early years -- this is essential to building a new generation of bright students.''

Radtke's work with Primrose began when she opened her first school in Texas in 1995 as a professional working mom struggling to find a quality early childhood education option for her own children.

"After having my children on waiting lists for 18 months, I left the corporate world to build Primrose School of North Lewisville in Dallas, Texas,” she says. “It was the best decision I've ever made!”

Looking to expand Primrose's exclusive Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accredited Balanced Learning Curriculum for children under the age of five to the South Tampa area, Radtke has been searching for the perfect location for seven years.

According to Radtke, Primrose School of South Tampa will be the only private school in the area built from the ground up that wasn't converted from a home or previously existing site. The new South Tampa location will be one and a half times the size of a normal Primrose school.

Additionally, Radtke says architects and engineers are working on-site toward U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification with a goal of LEED Gold.

"The South Tampa location will be the first urban, LEED Certified school to be built in the area,'' she says.

Now enrolling, weekly rates for full-time students will range from $230 to $260, dependent upon age. Primrose School of Tampa will also offer an after-school program for school-age elementary students from public schools (with transportation provided from local elementary schools) for $100 per week. The new school is currently 70 percent pre-enrolled.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Jana Radtke, Primrose Schools

The Tampa Heights Civic Association, PNC Bank and KaBOOM! are partnering on a new, innovative playground that will provide a safe place for children to play in the Tampa Heights community. Several years in the making, the new playground will be assembled in one day by volunteers on March 2. 

"This is so much more than a playground; it represents part of the implementation of a comprehensive neighborhood plan that the entire community has come together to create,'' says Lena Young Green, president of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association.

A national nonprofit organization, KaBOOM! has helped launch more than 2,200 playgrounds across the country. Founded in 1996 with the vision that every child in the U.S. should have a playground within walking distance of their home, KaBOOM! collaborates with communities to develop safe, accessible outdoor play spaces for kids.

A commitment of volunteers and community funding is required for planning to begin. PNC Bank, through the PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great initiative, provided the majority of funding to cover the cost of the playground. The Tampa Heights Civic Association is responsible for an additional $8,000. As of mid-February, $4,500 has been raised by the civic association, says Green.

The Tampa Heights playground will also include an Imagination Playground in a Cart, a play space designed by the New York architectural firm, The Rockwell Group. Movable blocks, mats, crates and fabric give children unstructured free play. 

When completed, the playground will be part of a Tampa Heights Health Zone, says Green. Other features include the Heights community garden; a greenway path for bicycling and walking, along with exercise stations and a dog walking area; a basketball court; and a youth and community center with commercial kitchen.

Volunteers are still needed to help assemble the playground equipment and move 43,740-square-feet of safety surface. The playground build-date is Saturday, March 2, from 8:30 am to 3 pm. 

Writer: Janan Talafer
Source: Lena Young Green, Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association

Leadership Sarasota, a program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, is making Venice's Michael Biehl Park a focus, with plans to improve the local park as part of a community service project.

Located next to Venice Theatre on West Tampa Avenue, improvements will be made to the park with $5,000 of seed money that was given to Leadership Sarasota by the local chamber of commerce to get the project off of the ground. ProGo Solutions, a company specializing in agronomic solutions, will also play an instrumental role in the project, as well as the City of Venice, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Venice Theatre.

In addition, the program -- which is designed to nurture and engage leadership skills through community immersion, leadership training and educating participants on "how things work'' in the local community -- will use resources through various Tampa Bay area-based businesses for additional funds via in-kind donations of consulting, supplies and equipment.

"Leadership Sarasota's Class of 2013 came to choose the Michael Biehl Park project after thorough consideration'' says Bridget McGrath, a member of Leadership Sarasota. "We all felt that this park and location had immense potential to enhance downtown Venice and, with the resources we have through our class and the local community, knew this project would be a success.''

The project plans to brighten the park with lighting and landscaping, add picnic tables and bike racks and enhance the overall design of the park; an existing mural will be embellished with new lighting.

"Currently, the landscape is pretty drab and lacks color; we intend to change that,'' McGrath says. "We feel that this park is a main focal point when you enter historic downtown Venice and will be helping the continued revitalization of the downtown area.''

An unveiling and community barbecue will be held at the park on April 21st, celebrating the new and improved Michael Biehl Park. Until then, Leadership Sarasota has plans to put in more than five scheduled work days where the class in its entirety will be putting in work to see the project through.

"Leadership Sarasota's class of 2013 is full of solid talent and great charisma with a strong desire to give back to our beautiful community that we are so fortunate to call home.''

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Bridget McGrath, Leadership Sarasota

A new city park is now open in New Tampa for active residents and visitors to enjoy outdoor activities such as bicycling and ziplining.

Located at 17001 Dona Michelle Dr. in New Tampa, the 122-acre New Tampa Nature Park connects to Hillsborough County's 7-mile, 400-acre Flatwoods Park trail system. Together, the two parks give Tampa Bay area residents access to miles of trails and preserved green space; not to mention the opportunity to keep an eye out for native wildlife.

“The New Tampa Nature Park is a great, active park,” says Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

An elevated boardwalk -- “nature walk'' -- crossing a wetland habitat, elevated "marsh walk,” rock and rope playground climber, zip lining system and a one-half mile long entrance road are among some of the activities offered at the new Nature Park.

“Children can explore nature,” Buckhorn says. “Our commitment to New Tampa is not just in roads and sewers, but is embodied in our parks and playgrounds, as well.”

Funded through Community Investment Taxes, Phase I of the project cost approximately $927,469, including stormwater control elements and parking for 22 cars and two buses. General contractor for Phase I was QGS Development, Inc.

Land for the 122-acre park was acquired through assistance with the Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000 and Hillsborough County Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection programs.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa

A funky new community theater space has made its way to Tampa's Kennedy Boulevard.

Located across the street from local favorite Buddy Brew, Powerstories' new 1,000-square-foot space at 2105 W. Kennedy Blvd. is part of the Biscayne Lighting building near Tampa's South Howard Avenue.

Featuring 12-foot ceilings and a large glass storefront, owner Fran Powers couldn't be more pleased with the new location for her nonprofit agency with the mission of staging the true stories of women and girls to open minds and hearts.

“Location, location, location -- it's easy access for individuals living in all parts of Tampa,” Powers says. “The owners are delightful to work with and are truly delighted that we're using their space for such a meaningful mission.”

Powers, who believes that the discovery and the telling of autobiographical stories creates new success, invests our lives with more meaning and connects us vitally with others, says the size of the new space allows Powerstories to move forward with its mission, established in March 2003, without being a financial burden.

Working with Keith Arsenault of Tampa's IAEG Inc. International, Powers and the theater consulting group are in the process of transforming the small $3,000 space into a very versatile 30-seat theater. Currently, the space can be utilized for workshops, rehearsals and open mic nights. An additional $15,000 will be invested to get the space ready for theater season, including the addition and installation of lighting and curtain systems, chairs, risers and a new floor.

“Powerstories will be an incubator space for new and young talent: A new live theater providing quality and rich entertainment can certainly enliven an area,” Powers says. “We envision an active little theater where folks are coming and going and are committed to making this a special, bright jewel in the Tampa Bay area.”

Every other Thursday night, Powerstories opens its doors to the public to allow the community to share and listen to true stories during “Open Mic True Stories Nights.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberain
Source: Fran Powers, Powerstories

A playground envisioned by the children of the Temple Crest neighborhood in Tampa is now a reality, thanks to the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, KABOOM!, Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc. and Foresters.

In less than eight hours and with the help of more than 200 volunteers, a new play space was built at Temple Crest Park, at 8116 N. 37th St. in Tampa. Plans for the park began at a Design Day held in September, where local children and community leaders met with organizers for KaBOOM! and Foresters to submit ideas in the form of drawings to create the final design of the playground.

“A playground is an important piece for the revitalization of a community,” says Foresters Senior VP Kasia Czarski. “Not only does it provide a first step towards keeping children healthy, but it's a safe, central location for the entire neighborhood to get together.”

Featuring ball fields, grills, play courts, picnic areas and a community center prior to the addition, the new 2,500-square-foot playground includes new play spaces such as a Glide Slide, Spiral Climber and Vertical Adventure Tube.

“Every child deserves a really cool place where they can play,” says Mark Downing of Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc. “We're committed to helping create those spaces in Tampa and are pleased to sponsor our fifth playground build with KaBOOM! and the City of Tampa.”

Since 2006, $7 million has been invested by Foresters in conjunction with KaBOOM!, totaling almost 100 playgrounds built or planned across the United States and Canada; over the past 15 years, more than 2.6 million children and families have benefited from the partnership between Foresters and KaBOOM!

“Foresters believes in providing opportunities for families to spend quality time together,” Czarski says.

The project is one of more than 150 playground builds led by KaBOOM! in 2012 as an effort to provide a great play space within walking distance of every child in the country.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Kasia Czarski, Foresters & Mark Downing, Friends of Tampa Recreation, Inc.

Thanks to a multimillion dollar investment, Tampa's about to get a lot brighter.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced a new street lighting program, “Bright Lights, Safe Nights,” a $2.2 million commitment over the next five years to expand the city's current streetlight network by 30 percent.

“Brighter lights mean safer neighborhoods and safer streets,” says Buckhorn. “Joining with our partners at TECO, this initiative will eliminate dark areas where criminals can hide and illuminate streets and intersections where our children cross.”

Improving Tampa's quality of life, approximately 8,400 new streetlights will be strategically placed throughout the city, including Community Redevelopment Areas and zones with high crime and/or crash rates; installation will begin in January 2013 with approximately 1,683 new lights per year.

Tampa Electric will oversee the installation with the City of Tampa funding electricity and maintenance; the City currently funds 30,000 streetlights, totaling $5 million annually.

“We've been lighting Tampa for 114 years and we look forward to doing our part to meet the Mayor's goal,” says Gordon Gillette, president of Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, early-morning and nighttime crashes can be reduced by about 35 percent with additional streetlights.

In addition, two research projects by the Institute of Criminology at the United Kingdom's University of Cambridge in 2005 found that documented crimes decreased up to 45 percent with the financial savings from reduced crimes exceeding the cost of lighting by up to 10 times.

“A well-light city is a safer city,” says Buckhorn.

“Bright Lights, Safe Nights” fulfills Buckhorn's promise to complete a citywide lighting inventory, determining where updates and repairs are necessary throughout Tampa, including the replacement of dimming streetlights and removal of tree branch obstructions.

The City is asking residents to request repairs on existing streetlights and/or submit suggestions for new streetlight locations.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa & Gordon Gillette, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas

With a mission to provide the highest quality, innovative, compassionate and nonjudgmental health care services to youth in an environment tailored to specific and unique needs, the new Ybor Youth Clinic will open on October 15th.

Sponsored by USF Health and the Lazydays Employee Foundation, the clinic, located at 1315 E. Seventh Ave., Suite 104, will concentrate on treating patients ages 13- to 24-years-old with at-risk behavior, including those who are homeless; HIV positive; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth (GLBTQ); and/or have been sexually exploited.

“Physicians from the USF Health Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Adolescent Medicine Division will staff the clinic, along with community physicians and USF medical student volunteers,” says USF Director of Public Affairs Anne DeLotto Baier. “Plans call for other health professions students to eventually rotate through the facility to gain the knowledge and skills needed to work with these vulnerable problems.”

The clinic is currently open for work on outreach programs, research and surveys.

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in September, featuring speakers such as Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, Medical Director for the Hillsborough County Health Department Douglas A. Holt, M.D., President of the Lazydays Employee Foundation Randy Lay and Lewis A. Barness Endowed Chair Professor and Chair of Pediatrics for USF Health Patricia Emmanuel, M.D.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Anne DeLotto Baier, USF

The TradeWinds Sandpiper Suites on St. Petersburg Beach has now become Guy Harvey Outpost.

A TradeWinds Beach Resort, the $3 million rebranding of the 211-room beachfront property, at 6000 Gulf Blvd. in St. Pete, marks the first Guy Harvey Outpost in the U.S. The Outpost celebrated its grand opening on September 12th.

“Due to the growing popularity of Guy Harvey, his brand and conservation efforts, the timing is great,” says Keith Overton, president of TradeWinds Island Resorts. “Guy has a lot of fans in the country and this gives them a place to come to experience his lifestyle, see his artwork and live his ideals. We're thrilled with the opportunity to work with Guy on creating a sustainable, green environment for our guests.”

Some highlights of the project include Guy Harvey décor in all guestrooms, a Guy Harvey Outfitter Shop, eco-based programs and activities, a renovation of the resort's current restaurant and beach bar and the addition of a marine-themed Guy Harvey restaurant with lounge area, private dining and retail store.

“Through our partnership with Guy Harvey, we're looking forward to building on our commitment to conservation and education while continuing to provide extensive recreational options for our guests,” says Overton. “These programs will not only be a wonderful addition for our guests, but will also positively impact local and regional tourism. Visitors, locals and guests will all be able to have fun while learning about conservation and our area's unique marine environment.”

One of Guy Harvey Outpost's first endeavors is the sponsorship of the auditorium at the new Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing and Interactive Museum in Largo.

According to Overton, guests of Guy Harvey Outpost should expect the same service that was given at TradeWinds Sandpiper Suites and will still have access to the amenities at the Island Grand, including the JetLev, surf school, High Tide Water Slide and Splash Island Water Park.

New carpet, paint, artwork and flat screen HDTV's are expected in all Outpost guestrooms by December 2012 with the Guy Harvey-themed restaurant and lounge seeing development in 2013.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Keith Overton, TradeWinds Island Resorts

Looking for a cool place to take the kids on a hot afternoon? Check out the new play spaces, climbing apparatus and water jets at the redesigned Ballast Point Park in south Tampa.

Designed by Hardeman-Kempton and Associates, construction on the $995,602 improvement project began in December 2011 and was funded by the City of Tampa's Community Investment Tax (CIT). The City matched a portion of funds raised by Ballast Point for a tot lot, a playground for children under 5 years old.

“Ballast Point Park has been an integral part of our community for over 100 years,” says Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “It's a popular spot because it has something from everyone -- from the fishing pier to the expanded wellness center to the new splash pad.”

In addition, park improvements include a sail structure to cover an existing playground, a great circular lawn, four new prefabricated picnic shelters featuring benches and grills, eight additional parking spaces and a new patio at the existing Joe Abrahams Fitness and Wellness Center. Florida friendly landscaping and irrigation were also installed.

The park also features a New England-style restaurant, Taste of Boston, featuring seafood, burgers, a kid's menu and Old Meeting House brand ice cream served on the edge of the Tampa Bay. The restaurant recently underwent new management.

Ballast Point Park was originally developed as a tropical park in 1984, serving as a terminal for an electric trolley-car line at the south end of Bayshore Boulevard; the park was previously named Jules Verne Park.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa

Joined by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Florida Rep. Dana D. Young, representatives of Humana, the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership, V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association, KaBOOM! and community volunteers recently came together for a legacy project playground build associated with the 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC).

Benefiting the East Tampa community well beyond August's RNC event in Tampa, a new, one-of-a-kind, multigenerational playground was built at Ragan Park at 1200 E. Lake Ave. in just six hours on Saturday, August 11th. The unique 3,780-square-foot space features equipment designed to serve all ages from kids to seniors.

“The site was selected before our neighborhood's involvement and it is my understanding that the selection was based on replacement needs and the site's ability to incorporate some multigenerational components such as exercise and fitness stations,” says Kim Headland, president of the V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association. “Humana was a willing partner and Ragan Park needed a new playground -- what better timing!”

Prior to recent investment, Ragan Park featured an older, worn playground desperately in need of replacement; the old play space was recently removed in preparation for Saturday's volunteer-based event. The park also features a small building for community events, a pond and a walking trail.

The new, customized playground, funded primarily by Humana and East Tampa TIF funding, was created by personal drawings and suggestions from local community members in an attempt to create a lasting neighborhood legacy promoting healthy play and living.

“The V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association, in partnership with the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership, have been part of the KaBOOM! process since the preparations began for Saturday's Design Day,” Headland says. “Participation has ranged from weekly conference calls, solicitations for community donations, recruitment of volunteers and dissemination of information throughout the community.”

Approximately $43 million in projects throughout the Tampa Bay region is expected to be spent in conjunction with the 2012 RNC. In addition to 18 playgrounds being built by Humana and KaBOOM! across the United States, a playground will also be built in Charlotte, N.C. prior to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in September.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Kim Headland, V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association

St. Petersburg residents and outdoors lovers are in for a treat: The City is planning a new park for the area.

In the early stages of the planning process, the new $1.6 million park is being developed for the vacated Rio Vista Elementary School site at 6th Street and 83rd Avenue N.E. in St. Pete; a public meeting was held on July 25th, discussing conceptual plans for the proposed Rio Vista Park.

“It has long been recognized that northeast St. Petersburg is lacking in recreational opportunities,” says City Parks and Field Operations Superintendent Phil Whitehouse. “The Parks and Recreation Department tries to look at service levels in all areas of the City to provide equal opportunities for recreation. This park will provide an avenue for recreation where one does not currently exist.”

Funded by Weeki-Wachee funds that were set aside for recreational projects, Whitehouse says a large portion of the budget wil go toward the demolition of the school that currently sites on the park site.

The City is currently also working on an approximately $700,000 master/management plan addressing concerns at Maximo Park at 34th Street South and Pinellas Point Drive. Funded by Penny for Pinellas and the Florida Boating Improvement Program, Maximo is expected to include renovated boat ramps, restrooms, new educational signage and native plantings upon completion.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Phil Whitehouse, City of St. Pete