October 16, 2009 - Residents of East Tampa have a new place to walk, jog or just commune with nature. The Robert L Cole Sr. Community Lake is the second stormwater pond area in East Tampa to be transformed into a passive recreation green space. Mayor Iorio will join members of the community for the official dedication ceremony on Wednesday, October 21 at 2 p.m. The Robert L Cole Sr. Community Lake is located at 1798 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
The lake is being named in honor of Robert L. Cole, Sr., a prominent East Tampa business owner and community activist. In 2007, Mr. Cole received the Business Achievement Award from the East Tampa Business and Civic Association.
The site was designed by Trent Green, Associate Professor at the USF School of Architecture and Community Design, and Rachel Rodgers of L.A. Design, with input from the members of the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership. Construction included a 1/4 mile circuit of boardwalks and sidewalks with in-laid granite panels, a two-story belvedere, a covered pier, an exercise station, site furnishings and landscaping. The cost of the project was $959,573 and was funded through the East Tampa Tax Increment Fund (TIF).
At 2:45 p.m. the Mayor will head over to Fair Oaks Community Lake, located at 3403 E. Caracas Street to officiate the renaming of the lake in honor of Herbert D. Carrington, Sr. who passed away in 2006 at the age of 107. A resident and community leader in East Tampa, Mr. Carrington began his relationship with the City's Parks and Recreation Department in the early 1950s at the Cyrus Greene Recreational Complex. He worked at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club for nearly 60 years. He was awarded Father of the Year in 2006 by the 100 Black Men of Tampa.
Also a stormwater facility area, the Herbert D. Carrington, Sr. Lake underwent renovations includinge paved walking paths around the pond with seating areas, a covered picnic pavilion site and landscaping. The cost for the design and construction was $811,150 and was funded through the East Tampa Tax Increment Fund.
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