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What's Brewing

A living tribute on Bayshore

By SUSAN THURSTON
Published June 24, 2005

So it doesn't have a fountain, a sculpture or even, at this point, a sign.

What matters is the park actually came to be, after years of planning, hoping and believing. What matters is that people will have a place to honor those affected by AIDS.

The tiny park opened several weeks ago along Bayshore Boulevard near Platt Street. There was no big party or ribbon-cutting. Few people even know it exists.

Jeffrey Lesser doesn't mind. He's just thrilled to have a peaceful, simple spot to remember his partner, Joe Kempson, who died of AIDS in 1994.

"Last I heard it was dead in the water," Lesser said of the park. The 43-year-old piano teacher drives on Bayshore every day. "I think it's wonderful, especially with what's going on in Tampa right now."

Earl Garland dreamed up the AIDS Memorial Park nearly a decade ago. Countless friends and acquaintances had died of the disease and he wanted a place where he could "remember, reflect and rejoice."

Over the years, the project gained and lost momentum. The Tampa AIDS Network got involved. So did former Mayor Dick Greco, who helped find land.

Garland, who ran the former Garland's Garden on Bay to Bay Boulevard, and Mary Beth Albright, director of development for TAN, came up with a fundraising plan. A local architect volunteered to do the design.

The city declared the site the AIDS Memorial Park in 1998. Not everyone liked the idea. Some opposed naming a park after a disease, even though a park dedicated to the fight against cancer was going up in Al Lopez Park. At least one person faulted the city for supporting a sexually transmitted disease.

By 2000, Albright pulled out to focus on her new business. Then TAN lost its government funding and disbanded.

But park supporters persevered. In May 2002, Florida AIDS Action organized the first fundraising event for the park.

Eventually, efforts fizzled. Thanks to new drugs, AIDS no longer was a death sentence. People were surviving the disease, and AIDS groups lost the spotlight. People moved on to different causes.

Luckily, a deal between the city and the developer of One Bayshore sealed the site's future as the AIDS Memorial Park. The city agreed to let Crescent Resources use the land during construction of a condo high-rise next door, provided the developer would build and maintain the park.

The company spent about $375,000 turning the .71-acre site into an urban oasis with huge palms, lighting and seating, said Jim Smith, vice president of Crescent Resources. A quiltlike design of brick pavers provides the only clue to the park's purpose.

Still, the sentiment rings loudly.

The park serves both residents of One Bayshore and pedestrians along Bayshore Boulevard. It comes at an opportune time.

The County Commission's decision last week to ban public displays of gay pride has energized the gay community and prompted many to evaluate their tolerance of alternative lifestyles.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio quickly challenged the ban, saying "gays and lesbians are part of our diversity and deserve our respect."

A small slice of green on Bayshore Boulevard adds teeth to her words.

Granted, AIDS is no longer considered a gay man's disease. It has reached epidemic levels in sub-Saharan Africa and is rising at alarming rates among minorities, drug users and young people.

The young weren't around when AIDS was killing people en masse.

They haven't needed a memorial park.

Someday they might. Fortunately, they'll have a small park on Bayshore to go to remember, reflect and rejoice.

SECOND TO LAST DROP: Twenty-five percent of people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, don't know they have it. To help prevent that, the Florida Institute of Community Studies is having a Summertime Healthy Happy Hour with free HIV testing from 4 to 7 p.m. today at its Multicultural Family Center, 6704 Hanley Road in Town 'N Country. Call 248-3427. THE LAST DROP: Developers of One Bayshore plan to sell the 12,500 square feet of ground-level retail space to a single buyer to lease to several businesses, such as a coffee shop, dry cleaners and cafe. Expect to see some activity in the next few months.

Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3394 or thurston@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 23, 2005, 01:01:07]