FY2003 Tampa Reports to the People

BARKSDALE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER
COMPLETED IN MARCH 2002

The original Barksdale Senior Citizen Center, built in 1942 on North Boulevard across from the University of Tampa, began as a United Service Organization (USO) building. The new 14,000 square foot Center opened at its new location at Macfarlane Park. It has a computer lab; kitchen; dining, music, and game rooms; a ballroom and an arts and crafts room, as well as an ample outdoor shuffleboard court.

OAK PARK COMMUNITY CENTER
COMPLETED IN MARCH 2002

This 40 year old center was deteriorated and had limited space. The renovation of Oak Park Community Center in East Tampa consisted of reconfiguration of the interior open space and the construction of an addition, thus allowing multiple programs to take place at the same time.

PLAYGROUND ACTIVITY CENTER
COMPLETED IN FALL 2001

A new Playground Activity Center was constructed next to Benito Middle School for joint use with the Hillsborough County School Board to incorporate additional recreational activities. Also included was field lighting.

JOE ABRAHAMS WELLNESS CENTER
COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2001

Joe Abrahams Wellness Center at Ballast Point was fully converted from a community center to a wellness center.

CUSCADEN & SOUTH TAMPA ATHLETIC SOCCER FIELDS
COMPLETED IN LATE 2001

Cuscaden Athletic Soccer Field - Leagues could not play at this park because of its condition. The field was leveled, conditioned and an irrigation system installed. South Tampa Athletic Center Soccer Field - four full sized and two smaller fields were developed along with lighting, restroom facilities and a concession stand.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. POOL
COMPLETED IN APRIL 2002

The old pool was constructed in the late 1950's and included a standard 25-yard concrete pool as well as a small pool for younger children. Due to heavy use and aging, the concrete pool was leaking and cracking. The new 141,000 gallon zero depth water park pool at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Complex comes equipped with a heater for year round use and consists of four swim lanes, two water slides and two water play features. This pool brings the City's total of pools open year-round to four.

NFL YET CENTER AT JACKSON HEIGHTS
COMPLETED IN MARCH 2002

The more than 50 year old original Jackson Heights Community Center was no bigger than a one-room schoolhouse.

The new Community Center, which was funded with bond proceeds and donations from the NFL and Glazer Family Foundation, sports a 12,000 square foot community center, featuring a gymnasium, computer lab, kitchen and multipurpose room. The development also includes a football field.

COLLEGE HILL COMMUNITY CENTER
COMPLETION SPRING 2003

This center, located at the Cyrus Greene Playground and in Tampa's Enterprise Community, will be completely replaced with a new facility.

KATE JACKSON COMMUNITY CENTER
COMPLETION MARCH 2003

Located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood, the Kate Jackson Community Center is being replaced with a new facility. The center is used heavily by children of all ages.

PORT TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER
COMPLETION SUMMER 2002

The old Port Tampa Community Center building was demolished and has been replaced with a new facility and gymnasium, the first one in this part of Tampa. Interior work is nearing completion.

CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT

Development of a downtown Cultural Arts District along the east side of the Hillsborough River is in progress. The district; extending from Kennedy Boulevard on the south to the Performing Arts Center on the north will include the new Art Museum, parkland, restaurants, shops, pedestrian walkways and an apartment complex.

The new Art Museum, designed by Rafael Vinoly, will be the focal point of the 28 square block Cultural Arts District. This 124,000 square foot, six-story, steel and translucent glass building will connect the City's business district with the waterfront.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place during FY03 for the Museum, which will feature 30,000 square feet of exhibition space, a museum cafe, a 350-seat auditorium, classrooms and an expanded museum store.

TAMPA-YBOR HISTORIC STREETCAR

Tampa's first electric streetcar lines were built in 1892 and operated until 1946. Beginning October 19, 2002; 56 years later, streetcars will again run in Tampa. The eight air-conditioned cars will cover a 2.3 mile route between the downtown Convention Center and Ybor City seven days a week, with expanded hours on the weekends. The Downtown Transportation Plaza at the west end of the line has bus and taxi bays and sidewalks in a park-like setting. The Ybor Station transportation hub at the east end of the line includes a streetcar museum, a park, a maintenance barn and office space. The ratio of funding for the $53 million project has been 4 to 1 Federal to City share. An endowment fund has been established and set aside for the purpose of funding future operations.

Phase II of this cooperative project among the City of Tampa, Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc., HARTline, and the Florida and United States Departments of Transportation calls for extension of the line northward to the downtown central business district.