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Tampa Has Super Plans For Downtown Park

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 28, 2008

TAMPA - The city is working to finish a redesigned park in the Channel District by January, hoping it could become a hot spot for Super Bowl events.

The Cotanchobee/Fort Brooke Park project features several elements, including more green space, a Riverwalk segment and a Heroes Plaza. The park runs along Garrison Channel, near the Tampa Marriott Waterside hotel.

The Super Bowl Host Committee has put holds on all downtown parks in the days leading up to the Feb. 1 game, said Sharon Graham, a special events coordinator for the city. No plans are set yet for the Cotanchobee space, but it might be used for a Super Bowl-related activity.

Plans call for adding more than 2 acres of green space and creating a Heroes Plaza, with plenty of picnic tables, shade and an interactive fountain, said Brad Souder, a city parks department project manager. The playground will be built around a Florida wildlife theme.

Heroes Plaza will feature three 6-foot glass panels, one honoring police and sheriff's deputies; one honoring fire rescue personnel; and one honoring war veterans. All will honor those killed in the line of duty.

Smaller glass panels will focus on the humanitarian efforts of heroes and the diversity of heroes, including displays on women during World War II and the Buffalo Soldiers. Hillsborough County is working with the city on the project.

The idea for Heroes Plaza came, in part, from Tribune columnist Steve Otto, who had written about the lack of recognition for local veterans. The column prompted Mayor Pam Iorio to talk to her staff about some sort of memorial.

"This will be the focal point for our community's recognition of our veterans, complemented by the county's recognition of our police and fire," Iorio said.

A separate public art piece will be called "Ceremonial Space." The sculpture, by artist Bob Haozous, will commemorate the history and significance of the Fort Brooke/Cotanchobee site, which long has featured a memorial to the Seminole tribe.

The park is the original site of an early Seminole Indian settlement.

The piece is 31 feet in diameter and 15 feet, 6 inches tall, said Robin Nigh, the city's public art administrator. The work will include information on Native American migrations and information on the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

The city also is partnering with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to complete a shoreline restoration project.

The park construction contract was awarded to W.G. Mills for almost $3 million, including $1 million from Hillsborough County.

The Tampa Bay History Center project is on schedule to be finished by mid-November, president C.J. Roberts said. The 60,000 square-foot project will cost about $52 million. Money comes from public and private sources.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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