Then the city's Parks and Recreation Department would like to hear from you.
The department is putting together a master plan for the entire parks system and is holding a series of community workshops to get input.
Among the upcoming meetings:
- Wednesday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2300 N Oregon Ave. in West Tampa.
- April 14 at the Port Tampa Community Center, 5701 Lancaster St.
Both workshops begin at 6:30 p.m.
For information, call Tom Johnston at 231-1331.
Beautification project to add plants along 3.5-mile stretch of Dale Mabry
TAMPA - The city of Tampa has started a $581,000 project to spruce up a 3.5-mile stretch of Dale Mabry Highway from Kennedy Boulevard to Hillsborough Avenue.
The project involves carving out 12 concrete medians to add plants, shrubs and greenery. Work has already begun between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Hillsborough. The entire project is expected to take about 16 weeks.
About half of the costs will be paid by a state grant. The remainder will be covered by local funds.
Mommy and Me program offers moms time to play and learn with children
HISTORIC HYDE PARK - Old Hyde Park Village is hosting Mommy and Me Time every other Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the main fountain area on Dakota and Swann avenues.
On Wednesday, Gymboree Play & Music of South Tampa will be on hand with singing, dancing and instruments.
April 21 is Dino-Muscle Fit Camp for learning the alphabet and muscle anatomy with Lifestyle Family Fitness instructors and special Dinosaur characters. May 5 is Mother's Day Craft Time.
Florida Conversation to focus on life of former slave, slave owner Anna Kingsley
CHANNEL DISTRICT - Daniel L. Schafer will lead a "Florida Conversation" at 4 p.m. Sunday at the University of South Florida Downtown Center, 1101 Channelside Drive, Suite 100.
Schafer, an expert on Florida history, will recount the life of Anna Kingsley, a former slave and slave owner, and possibly an African princess. Kingsley was a teenager in Senegal when she was captured and sold into slavery in 1806. Zephanian Kingsley Jr. purchased her in Havana and brought her to his plantation on the St. Johns River in Florida, where she became his household manager, wife and mother of his four children. Kingsley emancipated Anna in 1811, and she became the owner of a farm and 12 slaves the following year.
For information about the event, call 974-4373.
Red Cross seeks volunteers to help a few hours a week at Memorial Hospital
PARKLAND ESTATES - The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to work at Memorial Hospital of Tampa. Volunteers would spend at least four hours a week at the hospital, working at the information desk, providing clerical support or greeting patients.
The Red Cross provides training and an orientation. It has trained about 70 hospital volunteers. For information, call 873-6400, ext. 6777.
The Lotus Room to offer workshops on Feng Shui, Qigong and yoga
DOWNTOWN - The Lotus Room, 1101 W Kennedy Blvd., is offering the following events for April:
- A Feng Shui workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Bring a floor plan of your house to learn how to apply the Feng Shui principles to your home.
- A yoga alignment workshop will be from 6 to 9 p.m. April 15. This three-hour workshop teaches how to correct tendencies toward misalignment by doing yoga.
- A Qigong workshop on the six healing sounds of Chinese yoga will be April 17-18. Participants must register in advance and the cost is $145.
Ongoing events include yoga from 7 to 8:15 p.m. every Friday. A free Qigong class is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday. Those interested must call in advance.
The Lotus Room also will offer Tai Chi classes Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Tuesday. For information, call 254-6777.
