A woman's club works on plans for renovating the Spanish American War Memorial Park and Port Tampa Playground.
By CORY SCHOUTEN
Published August 1, 2003
Where grass sprouts through cracked pavement on a basketball court with no hoops, members of the Port Tampa City Woman's Club envision a play area for children.
Where gutters dangle from an old recreation center with faded blue siding, they see landscaped green space with nature trails.
Where a chain link fence greet visitors to a neighborhood park, they see wrought iron gates, a new flagpole and a welcoming sign.
The club wants to revitalize the city-owned Spanish American War Memorial Park and Port Tampa Playground by connecting them with sidewalks, trails, landscaping, a dog park and new playground equipment.
The club presented its plan last week to the Civic Association of Port Tampa City. In September, they'll take it to Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.
"We want this to be a gateway to the city and a landmark for the community," club president Maria Chesser said. "It's a little overgrown right now."
The project will likely cost more than $600,000 and will take several years to complete, said Christine Malzone, club secretary. They plan to seek funds from grants, fundraisers and the city.
"It's one of those inner-city parks that needs some attention," Malzone said. "Doing that will give the neighborhood a lot of pride."
In January, club members began working on the master plan with Karla Price, a landscape architect with the Tampa parks department.
The first step: taking stock of the sites - the Spanish American War Memorial Park and the old and new recreation centers - north of the intersection of West Shore and Interbay boulevards.
The proposal calls for demolishing the old rec center and making the space a transition between the memorial park and the new rec center, which includes large meeting rooms and a gymnasium. The Spanish American War Memorial Park would serve as a "front door" to the community, Price said.
Before plans are completed, the club will gather suggestions from the public by circulating maps and project details. "They really want this to be something that the community buys into," Price said.
The club has not set a timetable but hopes to renovate the Spanish American War Memorial Park by August 2005, the park's 75th anniversary.
A historic marker at the site says the park marks the point of embarkation for the Spanish American War. It says Teddy Roosevelt stayed in a house nearby.
Scott Davis, president of the Civic Association of Port Tampa City, said the plans are exciting news for the neighborhood.
"We have three sites that are being underutilized and it would be absolutely terrific to see them tied together."
